Farveez Maharoof-Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 2003

by A.C. de Silva

Former Wesley College star allrounder Mohamed Farveez Maharoof has gone through a great cricket career. While playing for Wesley College, he captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 in the World Cup, opening the bowling and batting middle-order. His best achievements were 243 in an innings and 8 wickets for 20.

He won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award in 2003. He was also picked as the Best Batsman All-Island and also figures prominently in the final round of the Best Bowler, Best Allrounder and Best captain awards 2003.

Maharoof used the seam well, besides swing, he mixed it up with cutters. His fast medium was well controlled, with an upright open -chested action. In international matches we have seen him bowling a line and length and with nagging accuracy, earning his bread with the sweat of his brow. Accuracy, consistency in length and his heady pace bowling is something that the young pace bowlers of the present day will yearn for.

In 2006 Maharoof had a take of 6 for 48 in the Champions Trophy against the West Indies – which was then the 9th best in ODI. His 4 wickets in a World Cup debut was a first for a Sri Lankan.

In 2007, his 100 wickets in 75 ODIs make him the fastest in Sri Lanka. Maharoof’s Test match bowling figures (24 wickets at an average of 60.75) do not show his natural talent as sometimes he is under bowled. This was amply seen in the third test between England and Sri Lanka in 2006 when he did not bowl in the entire match.

In the qualifying round of the 2006 International Cricket Council Champions Trophy, Maharoof had the best bowling figures in the history of the tournament 6 wickets for 14 runs which is also the 9th best analysis in all one-day international matches. That was against the defending champions West Indies and it was Maharoof’s first five-wicket haul in ODI’s.

Maharoof took 4 for 23 against Bernuda to start the 2007 World Cup and became the first Sri Lankan to take a 4-wicket haul in his World Cup debut. He also took his 100th wicket in his 75th one-day International, becoming the fastest Sri Lankan to reach that landmark, beating Muttiah Muralitharan by one match.

Maharoof got married on Saturday July 18th in 2009 in Colombo. Many Sri Lanka and Pakistani cricketers attended the allrounder’s wedding.