38th episode unveils on Sept. 20

Dinesh Weerawansa

The much looked forward to event in the school cricket calendar is only nine days away! Yes, the stage is set for the 2016 edition of the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year grand finale which will be held at Galadari Hotel, Colombo on September 20

The Mega Show is hosted by the country's flagship English newspaper - the Sunday Observer and its publisher Lake House, and sponsored by Sri Lanka's national mobile service provider Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel. It is the rewarding time for the country's next generation of cricketers after a strenuous inter-school season as the Sunday Observer, together with the financial backing of the SLT Mobitel, have planned a fitting tribute to the future national stars.

Winning an award at the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest show has been a dream of any schoolboy cricketer during the past four decades.

There is no exception this time around as hundreds of first X1 cricketers who had excelled during the 2015/ 16 inter-school season and thousands of their supporters are eagerly looking forward to the day that top performers would be richly rewarded for their efforts.

There is every reason for any schoolboy cricketer to dream of winning a title at the Mega Show because almost all such past winners had stepped into the Sri Lanka national team in next to no time - the ultimategoal of any cricketer! From the day Ranjan Madugalle won the Observer SchoolboyCricketer of the Year title in 1979 at Nawarangahala, the mega show hasproduced some of the greatest Sri Lanka Cricketers. Hence, all schoolboy cricketers are aware that an award at the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show would take them a step closer to winning the Sri Lanka 'cap'.

The invitees and schoolboy cricketers attending the MegaShow next Tuesday (20) are set for another memorable time with a variety of entertainment acts which would be coupled with the awarding of the glittering trophies and lavish cash awards.

Not only the outstanding schoolboy cricketers but also their coaches and masters in charge who had rendered a yeoman service behind the scenes will also be rewarded.

Hence, it is natural for everyone associated with Sri Lanka sport to feel that the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year is the mother of all shows! It had begun at a time when there had not been any organized inter-school under-19 cricket tournament or an annual award show.

But the great initiative taken by the Sunday Observer way back in 1979 had paid rich dividends with several others following us, making the great game of cricket the ultimate winner.

Awarding trophies to appreciate the hard work of schoolboy cricketers goes a long way in inspiring them as tomorrow's national cricketers as they step into club level with the ultimate dream of playing for Sri Lanka national team in the coming years.

Hence, motivating them to sustain in the game after their school careers is of utmost importance to give the national selectors enough options in the future.

All past award winners who had later played for Sri Lanka with distinction share one opinion - that the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show was their stepping stone for the big league and that they would never forget the first major cricket award they had won in their lives. Subsequently, these outstanding Sri Lanka cricketers who had emerged through the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show, had won many international trophies, including the World Cup and the Most valuable player of the World Cup tournament, apart from many man of the match awards in Tests and One Day Internationals. Yet, the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards they had won finds pride of place in their trophy cupboards.

The Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of theYear has gone from strength to strength, unveiling tomorrow's national cricketers. Another distinguish former Sri Lanka cricketer is set to grace the September 20 final as the chief guest, along with several ministers,officials of Sri Lanka Cricket, Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, Sri Lanka Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers and the top management of the Lake House and the SLT Mobitel.