By Maxie Kariyawasam:

Sure the Tamil Union Cricket Squad always had a plethora of talented individuals and players who could have walked into the Sri Lanka side in both test Cricket and one day internationals. Players of the Calibre of Muttiah Muralitharan, Mudalimage Pushpakumaia, Jeevan Mendis, Sachitra Serasinghe, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Sajith Fernando and Lanka Silva are names that come readily to ‘mind. They were keen as Mustard to see their club come out tops in all competitions but try as they did. This remained a distant dream.

Tamil Union C& A.C Cricket squad with for the season 2009/2010 with club officials

As certain as night follows day, what they lacked was the rare characteristic of professionalism. A saviour in the form of Dinal Phillips arrived as the Chairman of the Cricket committee. Prior to this he was the Asst Secretary of the club for 4 yrs and saw the dire need of Making the outfit a really professional one if they were to go places. The players enjoyed contracts in the 2008/2009 Season and in the 2009/2010 Season they received incentive payments for exceptional performances. In addition they have the facility of an ice bath and 2 washing Machines. They also receive clothing for the premier league and warm-up kits. Dinal Phillips also got down the services of renowned National Cap Brendon Kuruppu four years ago as coach.
Sri Lanka Cricket also responded with paying players fees of Rs. 1 Million Nine hundred and Sixty three thousand and five hundred as fees for the league tournament and Rs. Six hundred and fifty four thousand five hundred as limited over fees to the players. The Club obtained a Sun of Rs. Nine hundred and ninety thousand as match fees for the league and three hundred and thirty thousand rupees for the limited over segment thus helping the club considerably during the 2009/2010 season.

The players too responded magnificently ending the 2007/2008 season becoming champs in the 2nd XI tournament, and were runners-up in the Premier Division limited overs tournament in the 2008/2009 season. They went one better in the 2009/2010 season winning the Premier limited over tournament, a feat achieved after a wait of ten years.

The club also caters to a hostel for outstation players and is in possession of a bowling Machine and a trainer to keep the players fit and Mobile during the season. The club also produced the Sri Lanka youth team captain Ashan Priyangana and Jeevan Mendis the player of the tournament both in the limited overs and 3 day games during the 2009/2010 Season. Another salient feature was that both Sajith Fernando and Lanka Silva have scored over 10,000 runs since they began their respective careers. Lanka Silva was the coach for the 2009/2010 season and Sajith Fernando was captain of the side during the past season. I will also be failing in my duty if I don’t’ mention that Sachitra Serasinghe was named as the best batsman in the limited over tournament of 2009/2010.

The club which will retain the same squad for the coming Season are also strengthened with an additional three players who have been identified as promising and their main aim is to win the premier league division in the not too distant future. This will not be impossible with the likes of their Cricket Chairman Dinal Phillips and his committee who will in addition to maintaining professionalism within the squad also will reach out to any of the players who are in need of help and guidance. Lastly the club boosts of a picturesque grounds known as the Oval which the great Don Bradman has graced apart from his appearances in only England and Australia.