Clipper SC cricket tourney a tremendous success

S M Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Clipper Sports Club, Mahaiyawa in Kandy, gave an object lesson, to cricket administrators in the Kandy District on how to draw sponsors and organize a cricket tournament.

They conducted a tape ball cricket tournament at Police Grounds, Kandy in lines of the Indian IPL Cricket Tournament.

These boys were once under privileged ones with little or no basic amenities to play the game.

But they had amazing organizing ability coupled with the love for the game. They lined up six teams for this tournament which was eleven-a-side with each side facing eight overs of batting. The teams were Super XI old Tigers, Young Challengers, Bush Rangers, Clipper XI, Kings XI.

The teams had to be purchased by prospective sponsors at a fixed amount. They were all snapped by those from Mahaiyawa now working abroad.

Fifteen cricketers from each team were provided with special coloured playing kits with their names and numbers printed on top. This was something similar to the Indian IPL.

There was a band in attendance and tents put up all round grounds and the spectators were provided with refreshments.

The chief Guest at the opening ceremony was the Mayor of Kandy Raja Pushpakumara with former member Municipal Council Malar Silvam now domiciled in United Kingdom as Guest of Honour.

The 6 teams divided into two groups and the first two teams in each group played in the semi finals. The tournament went on well before a landing of the helicopter disrupted play and took away a good 90 minutes. This resulted in the matches being played in a shorter duration. In the semi finals Kings XI Bush Rangers XI by 11 runs and Clipper SC beat Super XI by three wickets.

In the finals Clipper SC beat Bush Rangers by 10 wickets with the match being played in semi darkness and reduced to four overs per side.

The total cost of the tournament was Rs four lakhs and the organizers did not go for donations as all the funds came from abroad.

The winners were awarded the Patrick Vethanayagam Challenge Shield with replicas. The runners were awarded the Clipper Cup. In addition to there were also a number of Individual Awards.

This is a lesson to other organizers in organizing a tournament by tapping the resources abroad.

The Kandy District Cricket Association organized a six-a-side tournament three matches and the trophies have still not been awarded.