Observer-Mobitel contest helps cricketers to reach the top

by Leslie Fernando

OBSERVER-MOBITEL: Schoolboy cricketer of the year competition started in 1978 continues for the 32nd year in 2010 paving the way for winners to ascend to the status of national level players. The sporting extravaganza is organised by Sunday Observer and sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel.

Sunday Observer has been able to contribute its might at a national level and to continuously evaluate schoolboy cricketers performances and reveal their cricketing progress to the world.

The most popular schoolboy cricketers will be selected by coupons and the rest of the winners will be selected by a panel of eminent judges - Sri Lanka Schools - Cricket Association and Association of Cricket Umpires and will be awarded certificates, cash prices and trophies. Sri Lanka Telecom - Mobitel continues to be the main sponsor once again.

Also on offer are cash prizes for cricket administrators of teams from all schools winning awards.

Award winning outstation schoolteams will be provided with a transport allowance to participate at the awards ceremony.

List of awards for Sunday Observer- Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the year.

All-Island and Outstation Awards for Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder, Best Allrounder, Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (winner-runner-up), Best Captain-All Island.

Dongle winners receive awards...... Observer-Mobitel Weekly coupon Dongle winners on quiz competition. M. A. C. Mohamed Atheek from Batticaloa receives award.	Dongle winner Abdul Cader Muhammed of Dharga Town receives the award.

Team Awards - winners - Best School Team: Northern Province, Central Province, Western Province, Southern Province, Eastern Province, North Western Province, All-Island, Outstation, Best Behaved Team All Island, Best-Up-and-Coming School Team All Island. Runner-up Best School Team: Northern Province, Central Province, Western Province, Southern Province, All-Island and Outstation.

Selected by coupons

Winners most popular schoolboy cricketer of the year All-Island and Outstation and runners-up most popular schoolboy cricketer of the year All-Island and Outstation will be by voting coupons.

SMS Competitions

Most Popular International School Team All-Island and Outstation.There will be 43 awards to be won Altogether Rs. 851,000 will be on offer to the respective winners and runners-up in the All Island, Outstation and Team Awards. There are also awards for readers selected by coupons and SMS Competition.

Comments by past greats.... Sanath Jayasuriya one of the world’s most vicious strikers of the ball, a former Sri Lanka skipper who excelled in cricket while at Servatius College Matara, said a contest of this nature means a lot to young cricketers. When I was picked as Best Outstation Cricketer in 1988 it gave me a lot of satisfaction and spurred me on and I am what I am now because of inter-school cricket and that encouragement it gave me.

He said that the ANCL-Sunday Observer and Mobitel should continue the contest for the benefit of the budding school cricketers. Jayasuriya commended the Mobitel for coming forward to sponsor this prestigious contest.

Muttiah Muralitharan: The highest wicket taker in Test cricket (792) said that this contest which started in 1978 proved to be one of the eagerly looked forward to contests in the country for over 30 years. I am indeed happy that this contest has gone on for such a long time.

Murali added that the competition like the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and Outstation Contests will encourage the young cricketers to work harder for the greater glory of the school and the country. The new sponsors of the show SLT Mobitel presence would further strengthen the show which has recognised schoolboy’ talent over the years said Murali.

D. Somachandra de Silva, the Chairman Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket said that Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest has produced several Sri Lanka players. In fact some have captained Sri Lanka team.

This contest is also a boost for the schoolboy cricketers from the outstations. It is indeed great for Mobitel to partner Sunday Observer in the prestigious contest which recognises the talents of the young cricketers in the country ‘D.S.’ added.

Former Sri Lanka Test leg-spinner D.S. de Silva, the SLC chief, said the partnership between Mobitel and Sunday Observer in taking cricket to the schools in underdeveloped areas and making the game popular is helping the boys to improve their progress. He said that SLC would support the Sunday Observer and the ANCL in their endeavour to promote school cricket, giving due recognition and appreciation for tomorrow’s cricketing heroes.