Zahira College Cricket Extravaganza at Maradana today
View(s):The Cricket Extravaganza organised and conducted by the Past First XI Cricketers’ Association (PCA) of Zahira College, will be held throughout the day at the school ground in Maradana today. The event, which takes place for the third consecutive year, will feature 16 teams giving the opportunity for more than 160 former cricketers of Zahira take part at this event.
The one-day event, which grew larger by participation over the past two years, expects to attract nearly 200 players this time around. In the past couple of years, the competition was open only for 12 team where 120 elite talented players from different and wide age groups were featured.
“Considering the overwhelming success the PCA had during the last couple of years, the Organising Committee decided to increase the number of teams to 16. This will enable more than 160 players to participate in a go,” stated the PCA President, Mazhar Zuhair.
Zuhair, who is certain that the PCA can support Zahira College to reignite its cricket standards as in the 1980s and 1990s, where the school was regularly featured amongst the top ranks in the island. In the recent past, though Zahira often produced an outstanding player every now and then, has somehow not been able to click back to their winning ways according to him.
“Our objective in organising this event for the third consecutive year is to bring together all the past cricketers and ally their support to strengthen and elevate the standard of college cricket to be amongst the best in Sri Lanka. Our target to complete this vision would be five years,” stated Zuhair.
Each team that is featured in the tournament will field eight players per-side during a match where there will be a round robin stage when the competition begins on August 20 at 8.30am. A match will consist of five overs per side. Teams will be grouped and according to their outcomes teams will be listed to the next stage which will be played as knockouts under Cup and Plate segments.
Among other features of the event the organisers will offer awards and prizes for players who will become the Player of the Tournament, Player of the Final, Best Bowler of the Tournament, Best Batsman of the Tournament and Man of the Match of each top game. A special award will be on offer for the longest hit of the tournament as well. In addition to enhance the spectators’ involvement the organisers will offer Rs. 10,000 in cash for anyone who takes a catch outside the boundary rope.
“For a spectator to become eligible for that prize, he or she must wear the official t-shirt, which will be up for sale for a nominal fare. The t-shirt could bring luck to someone,” Zuhair added.
The PCA has also received tremendous support and guidance from the Principal Triizvy Marikkar and its Sports Council headed by M.S. Mazeer. The PCA, founded in 2015, is the representative body of past cricketers of Zahira College. At present it has more than 300 members based in Sri Lanka and overseas.
With a 125 Years of a rich history, Zahira Colombo is one of the oldest cricket playing schools in Sri Lanka, having produced talented cricketers who have constantly represented local and overseas clubs and mercantile organisations, the PCA have now set a challenge for themselves to produce a national cricketer in five years. The event is sponsored by Mobil Lubricants of McLaren’s Group, Home Depot and EFL. – NA