Winners to be picked on Tuesday:

National Selectors in Observer-Mobitel selection panel

by Ranjan Anandappa

Come, Tuesday the 24th of June 2014 will be a crucial day for the schoolboy cricketers , as the panel of judges which includes distinguished umpires from the Association Of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka , a couple of National Selectors along with the President of the SLSCA will sit together at the Galadari Hotel for the 36th occasion to pick the best performers during the 2013/2014 school cricket season to reward them.

The selection will be done strictly on merit, taking into consideration the performances of the players as to how they fared during the season and more aspects like taking into consideration their performances international level.

The main contest, the selection of the Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year has paved the way for many schoolboy cricketers from the inception in 1978 when Royalist Ranjan Madugalle and later Arjuna Ranatunga were crowned to glory. In the recent past, Dinesh Chandimal (2009), Ramith Rambukwella (2011) and Niroshan Dickwella ( 2012) found their way into the national team. Many schoolboy cricketers are certain that winning an award in the prestigious competition is the key for success for their future endeavors . It has been proved time and again as going through the list of the recipients that it has produced many captains and outstanding players (batsmen and bowlers)who have gone to represent the country at the highest level.

The first contest of this nature was held in 1978 and the award presentation was held at the Galle Esplanade. This was done mainly to encourage more players from the outstation . That year Upul Sumathipala, a schoolboy from Mahinda College, Galle won the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year award. So it was a fitting finale to have it in Galle. But since then the award ceremony was mainly confined to Colombo. This contest has also provided opportunities for the schoolboy cricketers from the rural areas. This year too, the panel of judges will no doubt have a tough job in their hands while selecting the winners in all three segments. There are many who have represented the schools under 19 national team in two major tournaments, namely the Under 19 Asia Cup and the Under 19 World Cup, both held in the UAE and a couple players made some good contributions, although the Lankans could not make much of an impact at both tournaments.

Some of these players, although missing the school season due to national commitment will surely be recognised. Many players have great faith in the contest as the umpires who are in the selection panel have been umpiring during the season and physically seen the players perform. Likewise, the National Selectors who are also involved in the selection process are keen followers of school cricket.