Muralitharan star attraction at Saints Quadrangular

Chris Dhambarage

World record breaking off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will be among the stars to make his appearance in the 43rd annual Saints Quadrangular cricket tournament which will be worked off on August 28 and 29 in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka ace spinner who retired from Test Cricket recently will spearhead the Old Antonians Sports Club team in a 50 overs competition which will also feature the traditional rivals Old Peterites Sports Club, Old Josephians Sports Club and Old Benedictines Sports Club.

Old Antonians Sports Club will take on Old Benedictines Sports Club in one semifinal match on August 28 at Darley Road while Old Peterites Sports Club will confront Old Josephians Sports Club in the second semifinal encounter at Bambalapitiya.

The final of the tournament will be played on August 29 at St. Peter’s College ground in Bambalapitiya.

The winners will receive a trophy and special awards will be presented to the Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder and Man of the Match.

Meanwhile former Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman Mahesh Gunatilleke along with two other former test players Ruwan Kalpage and Piyal Wijetunga will represent the Old Antonians Sports Club Over 40 team in a veterans 25 overs a side game.

Old Antonians Sports Club will take on Old Benedictines Sports Club while Old Peterites will meet Old Josephians Sports Club with both games scheduled to be worked off at St. Benedict’s College ground in Kotahena.

The final of the Over 40 cricket tournament will be played on August 29 at St. Joseph’s College ground in Darley Road commencing at 10.00 a.m. The winners will receive a trophy with special awards presented to the Best Batsman, Best bowler, Best Fielder and Man of the Match.

Meanwhile the Quadrangular basketball tournament will worked off at St. Peter’s College courts in Bambalapitiya with Old Peterites Sports Club meeting Old Josephians Sports Club in the curtain raiser match on August 28.

The winning team of the basketball tournament will receive the Very Rev. Fr. Joe Wickremasinghe Trophy with special awards presented to the Best Offensive Player, Best Defensive Player and Best Player.

The chief guest for this event will be Ali Hussain Didi the former Peterite basketball captain who is currently the Maldivian High Commissioner to Colombo. The joint Technical Committee for this event will comprise of Nirmal de Silva (Old Peterite), Ranjith Peiris (Old Antonians), Nevin Noyar (Old Benedictines) and Arthur Hekal (Old Josephians).

The teams

* Old Peterite Sports Club cricket squad:

Hans Fernando (captain), Chrishantha Peiris, Niranjan Dabare, Malintha Silva, Shean Wijetunga, Sohan Boralessa, Gihan de Silva, Prajeev Jansz, Suraj Pinto, Umhar Samsudeen, Vinoth Perera, Lahiru Peiris, Angelo Perera and Lakshan Rodrigo.

* Old Peterite Sports Club Over 40 squad:

Shafeek Rahim (captain), Keerthi Gunaratne, Angelo Wickremaratne, Peter Dekker, Dilrukshan Fonseka, Gihan Siribaddana, Sudath Kuruppu, Priyankara Abeyratne, Priyan de Silva, Susan Bandara, Sujeewa Dahanayake, Damien Tissarachchi, Walter Fernando, Shabbir Hussain. Anura Silva, Suranjith Fernando, Calvin Ayupala, Chaminda Perera.

* Old Peterite Sports Club basketball squad:

Jared Anthony Fernando (captain), Vishal Angelo Fernando, Mafaz Ahamed, Neomal Perera, Joel Pereapulle, Rasitha Perera, Andrew Wijesuriya, Yohan Dole, Francis Gomes, Lakshan Samarasinghe, Nirmal Ferdinando, Shanaka Gunasekera, Shevon Ramanathan, Rashmika Lawrence, Rasitha Fernando.

* Old Josephians Sports Club cricket squad:

Asela Pathirana (captain), Denham Cramer, Sanjeew Rasiah, Charinda Fernando, Hashan Goonathilake, Tharindu Ariyawansa, Dilshan Perumal, Greham Fernandesz, Christopher Fleming, Shameera Weerasinghe, Dilan Ramanayake, Ranesh Perera, Roshane Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Umesh Ruberu, Suren Perera.

*Old Josephians Sports Club Over 40 squad:

Hiran Cooray (captain), Tony Gunawardena, Carlton Bernardus, Rohitha Tillekeratne, Asoka Jayamanna, Saman Peiris, Terrence Fernando, Ranil de Silva, Kishan de Silva, Shehan Fernando, Nandi Anthony, Prasanna Leanage, Roshan Makalanda, Mario Perumal, Trishane Nonis, Ajit Alirajah.

* Old Josephians Sports Club basketball squad:

Thanushka de Alwis (captain), Ishan Perera, Mafaz Mohideen, Rimaz Hassan, Jayadith Costa, Dhanushka de Alwis, Enosh Abeysekera, Jude Perera, Gene de Zilva, Carl de Zilva, Marion de Silva, Rayan Fernando, Lakshan Perera, Tishan Costa, Rajith de Silva, Viranga Malawana, Praveen Ferdinandz.

* Old Benedictines Sports Club cricket squad:

Rally Tissera (captain), Nuwantha Perera, Surain Silva, S. K. Perera, Dilanka Auwardt, Ferrin Silva, Amila Perera, Chanaka Wijewardena, Rajeev Amal, Raminda Silva, Sanagaran Nandalal, Bernard Perera, Surendrs Perera, Prashantha Boteju, Pradeep Hewage.

* Old Benedictines Sports Club Over 40 squad:

Lalith Fernando (captain), Gihan Perera, Nevin Noyah, Denzil Perera, Ravi Irugalbandara, Shanthilal Silva, Ranil Perera, Susantha de Alwis, Mohan Saverimuthapulle, Lorenso Jayasinghe, Ragnesh Worington, Lalith de Silva, Vivian Saverimuthapulle, Lanka Kamalgoda, Rohan Kurunjoos.

* Old Benedictines Sports Club basketball squad:

Lasantha Shri (captain), Asanga Perera, Thushan de Mel, Franklyn Morais, Prasanna Fernando, Saranga Fernando, Chamdinda Pushpakumara, Mahil Egodawatte, Amila Niranjan, Roshan Randima, Brawin Fernando, Dushan Eranda.

* Old Antonians Sports Club cricket squad:

Dilshan Vitharana (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Sajith Fernando, Tharaka Gunaratne, Prasad Ranawaka, Nuwan Ratnayake, Nipuna Ratnayake, Gimhana Dissanayake, Kasun Ekanayake, Mahesh Palihakkara, Sahan Palihakkara, Harshana Medagoda, Tharanga Bandara, Chinthaka Girihagama, Champika Siriwardena, Indika Fernando, Mohamed Zameer.

* Old Antonians Sports Club Over 40 squad:

Mahesh Gunatilleke, Ruwan Kalpage, Piyal Wijetunga, Suresh Peiris, Asela Herath, Zamique Muthalib, Pradeep Fernando, Mohan Ratnakumar, Gamini Debahapuwa, Anura Dunuwila, Mohamed Azari, C. P. P.Raj, Angelo Wickremasooriya, Premalal de Silva, Shoaib Thariqueshad, Angelo Leanage, Ranjith Peiris, Leonard Rodrigo, Rienzie Perera, Priyantha Ekanayake.

* Old Antonians Sports Club basketball squad:

Nirmitha Weerasekera, Niranga Sebastian, Christy Krishanthan, Lakshitha Abeyratne, Angelo Keil, Yasas Samarajeewa, Christopher Alex, Emantha Daniel, Chaturanga Gunasinghe, Shashika Perera, Imal Wijesiri, Maduranga Munasinghe.