Cricket: Olcott Memorial Tournament from Friday

The 17th Annual Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Cricket Tournament 2016 will be held at the Bloomfield ground from Friday (9) to Sunday (11). 

This year's edition will be organised by the Old Nalandians Sports Club. 

In the 1880s Col. Henry Steele Olcott formed the Theosophical Society in Sri Lanka, through which he established many girls' and boys' schools for the development of education throughout the country. 

As a result of which boys' schools such as Ananda, Nalanda, Dharmaraja, Mahinda, Maliyadeva, Rahula Dharmasoka and Dharmapala were set up. 

Every year, present and past pupils of these institutions lock horns in this tournament, where past test cricketers such as Bandula Warnapura, Arjuna Ranatunga, Roshan Mahanama, Mahela Jayawardene, Hemantha Devapriya, Sidath Wettimuny among a host of national and international cricketers who brought fame for their alma mater and the country will be seen in action 

In 1996, the Col. Olcott Sports Foundation was formed by a committed group of past cricketers from the Theosophical Society schools presided over by Bandula Warnapura, and decided to stage a Cricket tournament inclusive of present and past cricketers, in memory of Col. Olcott, for his invaluable contribution towards the uplift of education in the country. 

The charter committee of the Foundation initiated the inaugural Col. Olcott Cricket Tournament in 1999 which was hosted by the Old Nalandians Sports Club and won by Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. 

Each year, one of the participating schools, through their Old Boys’ Association/Sports Club organise the event. 

It is a well known fact that the Olcott schools have produced the most number of Test cricketers for Sri Lanka and the first Test captain and the World Cup-winning captain. 

The tournament will get under way on Friday, September 9 with a 6-a-side, where the present Under-19 teams of the 8 schools will compete, followed by the Past Cricketers tournament. 

The Past Cricketers teams will comprise 8 players of over 40 years and 3 players of over 30 years in age, in an 8-over encounter. 

There will be Special awards for Best All-rounder, Best Batsman and Best Bowler, selected by a panel of former Test players. 

Apart from their annual Big Matches, this will be an ideal opportunity for both present and past students of all Olcott schools to meet up with their respective contemporaries and enjoy three days of lively cricket and fellowship.