Abu Fuard – the perfect bowler
View(s):By Lasantha Rodrigo ,Moratuwa
With my cricketing knowledge and experience playing at National Level, I still have to see a bowler like Abu Fuard who bowled his off spinners in perfect style.
Any present day coach should train youngsters to emulate him. He had the determination to get a wicket from the very first ball he bowled. His desire to get wickets went to the extent that any fielder missing a catch off his bowling would get blasted the rest of the day. This I know for many a time we played together at National Level in addition to playing for the CCC.
When I was in the Selection Committee, Abu was the Chairman of Selectors. His approach to the selection of National Teams was purely on merit and he did not want any interference from others when selecting. I recall an incident when we were at a hotel in Kandy, along with the Sri Lankan Team he blasted a former Cambridge Blue Cricketer who also represented Sri Lanka, for trying to interfere with the selection.
I remember one instance in an evening when I went to see Abu, he wanted me to accompany him to see the Cricket Board president Gamini Dissanayake whose residence was along the same road. There he made a request wanting the president to visit the NCC Cricket Grounds, to watch the Sri Lankan Team practising before the Test Match against New Zealand. Mr. Dissanayake agreed and took us in his own car. Abu’s commitment as a Selector was immense and he was an encouragement to the players.
May his glory always remain in the hearts of the players who played with Abu.
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