U-19 Cricket: 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year on November 11

The grand show- the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016- will come alive on November 11 at the BMICH in Colombo. 

As many are already aware, Sri Lanka Under (U)-19 and Richmond College Captain, and a promising Sri Lanka (SL) star, Charith Asalanka will be crowned Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, by Chief Guest Roshan Mahanama. 

The guest of honour will be Sunil Jayaweera, the Special Consultant for the Ministry of Education. 

Mahanama, a member of the 1996 World Cup-winning team, a humble servant of Sri Lanka Cricket who went on to become a ICC Match Referee, won this award twice in a row in 1983 and 1984, when he represented Nalanda College. 

Like Mahanama, Charith becomes the 4th Schoolboy Cricketer to win the main award twice in the 37-year history of the competition, and the 3rd to win it back-to-back. 

Earlier, 1996 World Cup-winning Captain Arjuna Ranatunga of Ananda College, was the first to win the title twice in 1980 and 1982. Nalanda College's Roshan Mahanama, who became a top class international cricketer, won the title in 1983 and 1984. 

Ten years later, Thilan Samaraweera of Ananda College claimed the 'double' in 1994 and 1995. 

Charith, who won it last year, wins the title again mainly because of his contribution as skipper and versatile all-rounder of the Sri Lanka U-19 team. 

The Selection Panel headed by Jayantha Seneviratne had very little qualm in picking Charith, the versatile Cricketer with all-round capabilities, as the 37th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year for 2016. 

The tradition of selecting the top Schoolboy Cricketer of the island was held for the 37th year at Hotel Galadari in Colombo, on May 22, by a strong Selection Panel headed by Cricket expert Jayantha Seneviratne. 

The process was a hectic one, of course, for the 20 odd members of the Panel which had representatives from the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) and Umpires' Association. 

Under Seneviratne's versatile leadership, the panel also included former prominent Cricketers, who are presently top Cricket administrators. 

All-in-all, 32 winners were selected during the process which lasted hours. 

Charith, who leads Richmond College Galle, is an all-rounder and skipper of the SL U-19 team- any schoolboy Cricketer’s dream- at the ICC Youth World Cup. 

He was initially picked as Best Batsman, while his deputy in the SL U-19 side, Sammu Ashan of Ananda College was Runner-up. 

Last year, Charith won the Best All-rounder award and was Runner-up in the Best Bowler category. 

Sammu was picked 1st Runner-up of Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016. Asitha Fernando of St. Sebastian's College Katuneriya, was picked 2nd Runner-up after Charith and Sammu. 

All three were top performers at the ICC Youth World Cup, as well as against other international sides. Rasith Upamal Dias of Dharmaloka Vidyalaya was chosen Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016. 

The selections kicked off with the first award of the All-Island category, the Best Batsman’s award, where over 50 candidates from Division I Cricket playing schools stood eligible. 

But only 15 were considered in the 1st Round. The final records were scrutinised by the selectors, before they unanimously decided on Charith Asalanka as the eventual winner, with Sammu Ashan as Runner-up. 

Over 40 names were considered for the All-Island Best Bowler’s award, which eventually went to Asitha Fernando of St. Sebastian's College Katuneriya, a school competing in Division II. 

The competition was fierce among Lasith Embuldeniya of Royal College Colombo, Runner-up Avishka Fernando of St. Joseph Vaz College and eventual winner, Asitha, who is the SL U-19 strike bowler. 

The All-Island Best All-rounder was not a tough choice for the selectors, who made an easy call on Pramod Maduwantha of Isipathana College, from among 12 nominations. 

Akash Senaviratne of De Mazenod College, was Runner-up. 

After considering his efforts for the SL U-19, Wanindu Hasaranga of Richmond College was an easy pick for the All-Island Best Fielder award, beating 16 other contenders. 

Runner-up was Asitha Gihan of St. Joseph Vaz College. 

With 14 schools eligible for the All-Island Best Team award, the eventual choice was Trinity College, Kandy (TCK), with 9 wins from 14 games, while Thurstan College, with 6 wins from 14 games, were Runners-up. 

The All-Island Best Captain was virtually a one-horse-race with TCK's Raveen Sayer the winner. 

The Selectors next had the daunting task of picking the 36th Bata-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016, and runners-up of the main awards were considered. 

However, Charith Asalanka’s contribution to Richmond College and the SL U-19 as a useful all-rounder made him an easy choice for the main award, while the Selectors also had very little doubt in naming Avishka Fernando, another all-rounder representing St. Sebastian’s College and SL U-19 as Runner-up. 

Emerging Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2016, Rasith Upamal Dias of Dharmaloka, had it tough earlier, as he had to battle it out with Dilum Sudeera of Karandeniya Central. 

The Selectors went into 'extra time' before deciding on the eventual winner, based on records and observations of provincial officials and umpires. 

Emerging Best Batsman’s award had a long list of 35 players, with Rasith Upamal Dias of Dharmaloka clinching the title. 

Sebamalaipillai Jeniflemin of St. John's College Jaffna was Runner-up. 

Nearly 30 contenders were in the fray for the Emerging Schools Best Bowler’s award which was won by Dilum Sudeera of Karandeniya Central. 

Lasith Udage of St. Mary's College was Runner-up. 

Emerging Schools Best Fielder award was won by Kavindu Sahan of Devananda College, while Nimesh Dananjaya of St. Sebastian's College, Katuneriya was Runner-up. 

There were 15 names in the Emerging Schools Best All-rounder list, eventually won by Raveen Yasas of Devapathiraja Vidyalaya. Dilum Sudeera of Karandeniya Central was Runner-up. 

In the selection for the Best Teams from the Provinces, Wesley College with 4 wins and 6 drawn from 12 games, was the winner from the Western Province, while St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota, with 4 wins and 5 drawn from 10 games won from the Central Province. 

Devananda College, Ambalangoda, won Best Team from the Southern Province, 6 wins and 2 drawn from 11 games. 

Mary’s College, Kegalle, with 6 wins from 16 games won Best Team from the Sabaragamuwa Province for the 3rd year running, while St. John’s College, Jaffna, with 1 win from 10 outings, won Best Team from the Northern Province for the 3rd year running. 

Best Team from North Western Province was St. Anne's College, Kurunegala, with 3 wins from 14 games. 

Overall, Mt. Mary's College, Kegalle, was named Best Team, while Division III Champions St. Peter's College, Negombo, won Most Promising Team All-Island. 

All winners will gather at the BMICH in Colombo on November 11. 

The eventful Friday promises to be an unforgettable one to all the winners particularly, those who won the top awards. 

The Bata Shoe Co. and the Sunday Times fervently wish that, all winners will continue with their fine performances, which helped them receive these awards, to reach greater heights in Cricket.