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| Sunday, 29 June 2003 |
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Imagine being a guy. Standing out in the balcony with your friends behind you, and suddenly have your sarong pulled down to the floor. Wouldn't you just scream and rush to pull it up? Not so Dihan Avishka Gunawardene. This one cool guy refused to pull it up, calmly telling his friends that whoever who pulled it down had to pull it up(???). Er..is this usual guy behaviour? (Cause I know as a gal, that if this sort of thing happened to her she would definitely have reacted differently, and it would have not only been the most embarrassing moment of her life, but would have been the end of her life, the world, the friendship, everything). Well anyway getting on to the subject I am facing today-this six foot, 84 kilo, incredible hulk-Avishka Gunawardene-cricketer-opening batsman-drastic fielder-enthusiastic talker-etc, just turned 26 on the 26th of May 2003. Born in 1977 to a much respected, admired father who is in the Police Force posted in Vavuniya and a dear mother whom he says "never approves of what I do and constantly wants me to do what she wants", Avishka also has a younger sister who has just finished her AL's. Popping in and out of the National Side, and having three tests and forty five one-days' to his credit, Avishka first played cricket for his school-Ananda. Playing in the under thirteen team, this young determined guy, captained each age group as he climbed the ladder upwards. While Avish from the start was made out to be a batsman he used to do a spot of fast bowling as well. However once having a back injury this came to a halt and he started fully focusing on his batting. In 1996 Avishka joined NCC and played a few seasonal matches. 1996 also brought another change for him in cricket. Until this time Avishka had nearly always batted at number four or five. With the 1996 international field restriction rules brought in, he was asked to open in a match against India. He captured seventy runs. Having played for NCC he later joined SSC in which he still is in today. December 1997 brought Avishka's big break into cricket. Being selected to play for the National Side in a one-day match against Zimbabwe. In 1998 he earned his first test cap in a match against Pakistan. Speaking of it he says "I was eager to play, never for a moment nervous. I was just determined to play my best, and take it as another normal game". The big bang any batsman dreams of however was still to come and it came in the 2000 ICC Trophy in a one-day match against the West Indies. Avish scored his first 100. While things began looking good for Avishka the more he played, there was one major drawback. The same hands which scored him runs let him down in the field. A whoosh... and the ball would slip through those fingers. A catch missed. Four runs given away. A side no cricketer, selector or spectator could or can ignore. While catches win matches, misses tend to loose them. Avishka was not selected for the recent tour of the West Indies. Speaking to him about his fielding, this tall, big made guy says sheepishly "Big made tall guys tend to be a bit on the lazy side". However, Avish also puts in that he has worked on it, "cut down 6 kilos" and improved his fielding in the last few months. This however remains to be seen. Okay. Cricket aside, do you want to know more about Avishka the person? Well according to the above mentioned he is a friendly, simple, easy going guy who doesn't take things too seriously. Women he says often get the wrong impression over his friendliness (Hmmph). He's done a spot of rugger in school which he had to give up because of what else-his cricket. Cricket being the dominant force of his life, Avish absently works for HNB, in which he is visible now and then, when he is not busy with-cricket. Well when not busy with cricket and not busy in the bank what does he do? The answer comes bouncing into the room as Avishka attempts to calm, the ferocious being down for the photo snap in the picture. Her name's Britney and no she is not named after Britney Spears. Britney however is not the only wolf like creature in the house. Although his pix is not here Avish also has a dog called Gary. What with these mild tempered, easy going girl and guy in the house it comes as no surprise to me to learn that none of Avishka's friends enter the place before yelling out whether the two have been tied up. Of Britney Avish says "I got her from Sharjah when she was just a little pup. She doesn't listen to anyone but me at home". Well after watching Avishka straining to hold the now two year old gal, down, playing with her, making her sit (which she does provided we sit too) and listening to a horror story of what's straining to get at us (something about a cousin of his, who had walked in when Brit was loose and had his body pulled onto the floor...) we have to be guided out so as to not share the same fatal fate.... PS-Is he or isn't he? A question on marriage! How could I forget this? Every man who embarks on to the public scene must be in want of a wife. This however does not seem to be the case of Avishka Gunawardene,(at the moment). But I suspect the affliction will in time to come...well anyway getting on to the facts, I was told by certain sources (and no I won't reveal their names in case anyone makes the same mistake as I did in consulting them in the first place) that Avishka was married. When asking him to pose with his wife, I was astounded that he was not. Well, said he was not. "I am not married. I am hundred percent sure I am not married and happily divorced either". Well anyway I do establish for a fact from the horse's mouth itself that he does however have a girl friend. And what does he look for in a girl? Honesty, understanding and a little bit of beauty. Speaking of the girl of his dreams he says "Other than a few minor adjustments, I won't change for a woman". (If he only knew. The old saying is that it is the woman who changes) PPS - Ooops! Since there was no room to sneak this bit of information in the main article, here goes... Avishka loves travelling, listening to music, eating hot and spicy rice and curry, partying, playing pool and chilling out with his friends. That's it. Farah |
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