“Murali Cup”
A Historical Sports Event Promoting Social Integration

Murali Cup, the first ever International School Cricket tournament hosted in Southern Sri Lanka was played between 12th - 18th July 2011 as a joint collaboration between Red Dot Tours and the Foundation of Goodness. The Murali Cup was conceptualized to unfold as an effort to unify local and international sports communities in reverence of the sportsmanship and immaculate achievements of the cricketing legend, Muthiah Muralidaran, whose humble and compassionate existence shower blessings upon disadvantaged persons in our country through countless humanitarian endeavors.

Not only did the Murali Cup provide opportunities for school level cricketers coming from different backgrounds to show their talents, it also promoted the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) Spirit of Cricket concept of playing fair and square to the best of one’s ability through a presentation by Roger Knight for encouraging social interaction between children of different ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds. The Tournament also conceived much support from media and sponsors as it was designed to raise funds for the Learning and Empowerment Institute of the Foundation of Goodness in Mankulam - North of Sri Lanka.

The tournament attracted eight teams out of which 5 were international and 3 were local. Namely the teams were King Edward’s School Southampton – UK, KLCL Malaysian Academy, Dulwich College - UK, Warwick College - UK, Bloxham College - UK, Hindu College - Matale, St. Patrick’s College - Jaffna and FoG Cricket Academy Team.

These teams were divided into two groups of four teams and each team was allotted to play three games. The FoG Academy, St. Patrick’s, Dulwich and KLCA made it to the Cup semi finals with FOG Academy and Dulwich making it to the Cup final.

On the day before the finals, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, Former Captains of Sri Lanka Cricket Team dedicated their time to conduct a master class at the Seenigama Sports Academy. Players belonging to all 08 teams participated at this coaching camp where many techniques, insights and playing experiences of the two Sri Lankan greats were discussed. Kumar and Mahela were also joined by Lanka de Silva (wicket keeping) and C. Kodikara (fielding) coaches from Sri Lanka Cricket to train the youngsters at the master classes. They were assisted by FOG cricket coaches and other school cricket coaches who work closely with the Foundation of Goodness.

As much as the Murali cup was a sporting event, it did not fail to provide community aid spirit for the teams that came in. An entire day was dedicated for foreign teams to blend in to the community and work together as a team in the spirit of giving back to the needy. In this light, the Seenigama Sri Wimala Buddhi Maha Vidyalaya School classrooms were painted and a Beach cleaning campaign was carried out. The day ended with a karate demonstration by the FOG Karate Instructor and his team of Instructors. This was a fantastic experience for all the boys.

The Murali Cup Final’s was played at the picturesque Surrey Village Cricket Grounds in Maggona on the 18th July between the FOG Academy team and Dulwich College team. The spectacular final was dominated by the sensational batting of Adeesha Thilanchana, who scored a whirlwind 100 not out and a scintillating 52 not out off 15 balls by FOG skipper Pulina Tharanga. Adeesha’s hundred was reached off the last ball of the innings which allowed the FoG Team to score 245 for 2 in 35 overs. As a result of this stunning batting performance by the FoG team, the Dulwich College, the strongest of four English teams in the tournament, wilted under pressure to reach a poor 72 for 8 before rain stopped play in the 22nd over.

Other highlights of the event for the winning team included Pulina Tharanga of FoG academy team being named the Player of the Tournament for his 184 runs and 15 wickets. The winning team was presented the Champions Trophy by cricketing icon Muthiah Muralidaran and Pulina, was gifted with a special Reebok bat by Mahela Jayawardena.

The tournaments Plate Finals was played between KLCA Malaysia Team and St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna with St. Patrick’s emerging as winners at the end, after an absorbing match. Cricket coach for St. Patrick’s College, A.S. Nishanthan expressed his views this way: “We are grateful for the Foundation of Goodness for inviting us in and for the goodness shown. We received very good treatment and a massive crowd support even while at play. The Murali Cup was a very good opportunity for young boys from the North to play cricket outside Northern district for the first time and against different teams while building good relationships. Our heartfelt thanks extend to Kumar Sangakkara for making all this possible for St. Patrick’s College.”

The Murali Cup was sponsored by Elephant House while,  MAS, Etihad Airways, YES FM and Sports First were co-sponsors for this unique initiative that Red Dot Tours and the Foundation of Goodness hopes to organize next year around, as well. Among the many contributors who made Murali Cup possible, our special thanks rest with Roger Knight, former Secretary and Chief Executive of the MCC, without whose vision and support, the success of this event would not have been possible.

Although the tournament itself was a massive success for the Foundation of Goodness, the actual success story of the Murali Cup is quite different. After the civil war of three decades that tore our country apart, it was the first time in their lifetime that players of St. Patrick’s College Jaffna visited South of Sri Lanka. Upon invitation from Kumar Sangakkara, students of St. Patrick’s College whole-heartedly set out on a journey in which they did not know what to expect. By the time they came to Seenigama, they did not have a clue on what kind of experience they will be faced with during the week they were to reside within a Sinhalese community. They did not know what to expect or whether the pre-conceptions they held about their fellow Sinhalese citizens were true.

Following a warm welcome by the Foundation of Goodness Sports Academy staff and the typical Southern hospitality experienced by the cricketers from Jaffna, new bonds were built and better understanding was reached. Therefore, the Murali Cup brought in the spirit of reconciliation to the center stage. It allowed an opportunity for teams coming from different ethnic backgrounds to rejoice and most importantly, it provided a platform for players from the North and the South to jell in together through sportsmanship to stand up for our nation. As much as it was a novel experience for students coming from the North, it was indeed a very heartwarming experience for southerners as well. “We fought hard for victory. Overall, the Murali Cup was a different experience with us being treated so well. I have made friends with both local and foreign players. They are already added on Facebook as friends”, says Eric Pradath, the star bowler of the St. Patrick College who thrived on a hat-trick against KLCL Malaysian Academy.

Wanting to ensure that our visitors from the North had a good time in the South; the owner of ‘Refresh’, a famous restaurant in Hikkaduwa, treated the St. Patrick’s College team to a meal outing, free of cost. Awed by the generosity that extended beyond hospitality they have ever known or experienced, the St. Patrick’s College team made promises to revisit Seenigama and in return, invited the Southerners to visit Jaffna.

It is to see Sri Lankans rejoicing this way in peace that many have sacrificed their comforts of living and lives itself, in a brutal war. Therefore, the biggest victory of the Murali cup after all is to have laid the foundation on which reconciliation and peace is established.                    

Kushil Gunasekera, Founder/Chief Trustee of Foundation of Goodness commends “The Murali Cup is a tribute to a legend who has contributed immensely off the field for the betterment of humanity and a fitting reciprocation for someone who has done such amazing work in the South. As for the concept itself, the most prominent feature was to enable the cricket team of St. Patrick’s College Jaffna to explore new horizons by interacting with overseas teams and savor the hospitality in the South which, for them was something completely new and unexpected not knowing the reception. However, they left with fond memories promising to return as their expectations had been surpassed by way of the ‘caring and sharing’ attitude that helped to build unity, goodwill, harmony, reconciliation and peace. I salute all those who made this event a reality especially, the three legends; Muthiah Muralidaran, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena who graced the occasion spending much time imparting their invaluable knowledge to youngsters for whom this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity”.

03.08.2011

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. 

-William A. Ward