Golden opportunity for schoolboys from North and East

This year's Glucofit Cricket Sixes tournament, starting on October 16, gives schoolboys from the once war-torn North and East the opportunity to rub shoulders with Colombo's elite. This is further evidence on how much this tournament has gained popularity over the years. Six combined school sides will feature players from lesser known schools and districts like Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Bandarawela, Moneragala, Ampara and Hambantota.

Another new concept is the Free Hit off a no-ball and also an arts competition where students of Wesley College will figure in the Glucofit Cricart. This competition will be extended to all schools around the country from next year.

The organisers will make use of the occasion to declare open on the final day of the tournament the newly re-laid turf pitches at Campbell Park which was supervised by Sri Lanka Cricket. The winners will receive the Munchee Glucofit Champions Trophy and the runner-up the Old Wesleyites SC trophy.

There are individuals awards for Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder, Highest Number of Sixes, Man of the Tournament, Man of the Final, and Best Outstation Team. Another new trophy is for the Well Disciplined Team on and off the field.

Wesley's oldest living cricket captain who resides in Sri Lanka, Edmund Dissanayake, will be the chief guest. Dissanayake, who captained Wesley in 1946 is 86 years old and is one of four cricketers from the Hambantota district to have led the schools at cricket. The others were TI Cassim (1944), Mahendra Dissanayake (1984) and Danesh Dissanayake (1989).