Maris Stella win ‘Fair Play’ trophy

Five days more for the mega event:

Maris Stella College, Negombo will be awarded the Fair Play Trophy for the Best Behaved Team at the 32nd Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Mega Awards Ceremony to be held at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Conference Hall ‘A’, BMICH next Monday (14).

The Fair Play Trophy for the Best Behaved Team was introduced as an extra award since last year on a suggestion made by none other than Ranjan Madugalle, the winner of the inaugural contest way back in 1979.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 30th Observer-Mobitel cricketer of the Year Awards Ceremony held in 2008 at the BMICH, ICC Chief Match Referee and former Sri Lanka captain Madugalle suggested that the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Mega Awards Ceremony should also honour best behaviour of school cricket teams.

Madugalle also noted that this award will be able to inculcate a habit among schoolboys to play the game within the law.

The Sunday Observer, the proud host of Sri Lanka’s first ever school cricket awards ceremony, took prompt action and introduced a special trophy for the Best Behaved Team last year, which was won by Nalanda College, Colombo.

The Maristonian cricketers are thrilled that their team has performed well during the last cricket season. For their untiring and hard work together with fine discipline, Maris Stella were rewarded as the panel of cricket umpires who acted as judges selected them as the ‘Best Behaved Team.’

Indeed it is a honour for the school to be selected for such an award said Bro.Mervyn Perera, Principal, Maris Stella College. Harsha Gamaadikara, coach of Maris Stella College said the boys have achieved a creditable feat.

This is the second time a ‘Best Behaved Team’ was selected by the Panel of Umpires and School Cricket Association.