The annual six a side cricket tournament played for the Col Henry Olcott shield contested by schools founded by Col Henry Olcott is scheduled to be played from December 10 to 12 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

The tournament which began in 1999 will see eight leading Buddhist schools Ananda, Nalanda, Maliyadeva, Dharmapala, Dharmaraja, Dharmasoka, Mahinda Galle and Rahula Matara brushing shoulders for the 12th time.

This year the tournament is being organized by the Mahinda Cricket Foundation who are conducting it for the second time having earlier done so in 2002. The tournament which is for players over 40 years will see a school cricket tournament fought out between the eight schools being held concurrently. The tournament will begin with the school category on day one.

Kumar Samarasinghe President of the Mahinda Cricket Foundation briefing the media said that this is a much looked forward to and special tournament for the old boys and present boys of these eight schools who get an opportunity to meet old friends. Upul Sumathipala chairman of the organizing committee said that the over 40 teams have the option of fielding three players between the age group of 35 and 40. But no team could have national players or anyone playing in the domestic cricket tournament.

Old Dharmapalians are the defending champions which was the second time that they were winning it having earlier won in 2001 and will go all out to retain the title.

Nalanda won the inaugural tournament in 1999 and again in 2007. Dharmasoka is the other team to win it twice in 2000 and 2008. The other winners are Mahinda (2002), Rahula (2003), Ananda (2004), Dharmaraja (2005) and Maliyadeva (2006).