Observer-Mobitel Cricket Contest hailed by top stars

by Leslie Fernando

OBSERVER-MOBITEL: The Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest opened the door for young cricketers to further their interest in the game. The contest is a forerunner for cricketers to gain recognition at the highest level. Ranjan Madugalle was the Observer first Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979 and (earlier in 1978 Madugalle won the award when the contest was sponsored by Warner-Hudnut Limited.

Madugalle needs no introduction in cricket, be it in Sri Lanka or in the outside world. He is a past Sri Lanka captain and what’s most important is the fact that he was the youngest in the International Panel of Match Referees and was in charge of 1999 World Cup final and now is the Chief Match Referee of the ICC.

The fact that these contests cater to the very best reflected in the results so far - Arjuna Ranatunga (Ananda College) Captain of World Cup team of 1996. He was the winner of the Observer Contest in 1980 and 1982. He was also the president of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Roshan Mahanama (Nalanda) ICC Match Referee was crowned as the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year twice in 1983 and 1984.

Sanath Jayasuriya was a schoolboy at St. Servatius College, Matara and won the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award and was Sri Lanka skipper after Arjuna Ranatunga.

Kumar Dharmasena (Nalanda) won in 1989.

Marvan Atapattu (Ananda College) won the Observer contest in 1990 and went on to captain the Sri Lanka team with success. Muttiah Muralitharan (St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota). The world’s highest wicket taker, won the main contest in 1991.

Thilan Samaraweera (Ananda). He is yet representing Sri Lanka in Test and One-Day Internationals. On par with Madugalle, Ranatunga, Samaraweera won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year on two occasions 1994-1995. Chinthaka Jayasinghe (Dharmapala) won the contest in 1997. Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (Ananda college) won the contest in 1999.

Kaushal Lokuarachchi (St. Peter’s College) won the contest in 2001, Farveez Maharoof won it in 2003, Gihan Rupasinghe (Nalanda) winner of the contest in 2006 and Dinesh Chandimal (Ananda College) the winner of the last year’s contest.

The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer Contest has been well received. The comments by some of the Sri Lanka cricketers who have won the main award:

Ranjan Madugalle: Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and Observer should be complimented for keeping the show going for all these years. Sponsors are essential. May the show continue for many years.

He said that in the past most of the winners of the top awards came from Colombo and its suburbs, but, now the outstation schools have come in a big way and it is a good sign for the game.

Sanath Jayasuriya: Said that it was of the best things that happened to him in 1988 when he won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in the Outstation Section. Jayasuriya said playing for St. Servatius’ College, Matara brought him immense joy.

He said that school cricketers must be motivated. He added that school cricket has helped him a great deal and the much needed push ahead when he was at St. Servatius’ College, Matara. ‘I must thank the observer for giving the Matara Schools and school cricketers the push’. He said that the Schoolboy Cricketer of the year Contest should not be the end, but the foundation laid for better things to be got from the cricketers.

Thilan Samaraweera: Twice winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the year Award 1994-1995. He says he owes his climb to the top in cricket due to the encouragement given by the contest of this nature. Thilan who won the contest in 1994 and 1995, also won the Best Batsman and Best Allrounder’s in both occasions. He endorsed this long-standing contest as the best for schoolboy cricketers.

Muttiah Muralitharan: A contest of this nature means a lot to young cricketers. When I was picked as the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1991, it gave me lot of satisfaction and spurred me on and I am now where I am because of inter-school cricket and the encouragement it gave me Muralitharan said. He said that the ANCL and the Observer should continue for the benefit of the budding school cricketers.

Kumar Dharmasena: A member of 1996 World Cup winning team, presently ICC Test Umpire said that he must congratulate ANCL and the Sunday Observer for keeping the show going for over 30 years.

Kumar who won the contest in 1989 while playing for Nalanda, added that sponsors are vital for the progress of sports in a country and ANCL has taken the lead and it helps the authorities to build up the youth. Development of youth is very important as the youth are the ones who will take the country forward.