Have award for the Best Behaved Team - Madugalle

By A. C. de Silva

CRICKET AWARDS: The Sunday Observer and sponsors Mobitel could not have thought of a better cricketing personality than their ultimate choice of having their top award winner at the inaugural year 1979 - Ranjan Madugalle as the chief guest for the Sunday Observer - Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Awards Ceremony - the 30th in the series at the BMICH on Friday evening. This was the second occasion that Madugalle was the chief guest at this show. Earlier it was in 2002.

Madugalle, the perfect gentleman and now a perfect speaker too, had the large audience of schoolboys and cricket enthusiasts captivated with a stirring speech that had the audience spell bound.

“I stand in great sense of nostalgia and I can still remember the day when I received the award for the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year under the leadership of the Sunday Observer. The award that year is a lasting memory and I will treasure that moment forever.” Madugalle said while speaking to a appreciative audience.

This being a schools cricket show, “I would like to make a suggestion to all the authorities concerned. There has been isolated incidents of cricketers going haywire and I would like to make a suggestion to the heads of school and the cricket authorities to have an award for the “BEST BEHAVED TEAM” and with such an award at stake, the boys will be able to inculcate a habit in them to play the game within the laws.

He requested all concerned to treasure the game, behave and be dedicated and then success will eventually follow”, Madugalle said further.

“Cricket is a noble game. It moulds one’s character and makes a way of life to the individual concerned.” Madugalle said and added that from cricket other sports can take a lesson. Cricket is governed by laws. Though at times the laws change, one has to play the game within the laws because no one is greater than the laws of cricket.

While playing the game according to the laws laid down, the players involved in the game must respect the opponents. All are human beings like you and a cricketer must be able to take victory and defeat in the same spirit.”

In cricket what I have learnt all these years is to treat the opposite side players not as opponents, but as friends. There are many things that one has got to learn from the game. Team strategy and leadership will ultimately brings success and rejoicing must discipline mind and body”. Madugalle remarked.

People will remember and have a lasting impression of the cricketer who conducts himself in a fitting manner and when you play the game, you learn many things and all good things will ultimately will benefit the country, Madugalle reiterated.

Madugalle - former Sri Lanka skipper, Royal College leader has now reached the zenith of his career, being picked as the International Cricket Council’s Chief Match Referee. This certainly is a single honour for Sri Lanka, having come into the game long after countries like England, Australia and many others.

He said that he was able to climb the ladder of success because he believed from his young days to respect the coaches and masters in charge of the game. “Remember all of them - they are your makers and they will lead you up the right path, “Madugalle added.
 

And speaking to the elders in particular, Madugalle urged parents to treat the children as children and ‘NOT FORMIDABLE SUPERSTARS.”