Former administrator Abu Fuard dies

Former Sri Lanka cricketer and administrator Abu Fuard died in Colombo on July 28 at the age of 75. He was suffering from a kidney disease for the past few years. Fuard represented Ceylon in first-class cricket between 1956 and 1970. He later served Sri Lanka cricket as an administrator and was the manager and coach when Sri Lanka won their first Test match against India in 1985.

An offspinner, who also opened the batting, Fuard took 51 first-class wickets from 19 matches and score 406 runs. But his major contribution to Sri Lankan cricket came as an administrator, manager, curator, coach and as a national selector. Fuard was manager and coach for Sri Lanka during the 1975 World Cup and assistant manager when Sri Lanka recorded their first win over a Test playing nation during 1979 World Cup.