After 15 years.....

 

One cold evening in October 2018, 90kg man had fat wobbly tummy with white ball in hand was ready in front of the former Oman national cricket captain. "Are you wish to ball" that was his question with wondered eyes.  That was the day I do the hard ball bowling after 15 years in Al Amerat cricket ground practice net.

As a left arm chinaman I had a chance to make some impress in my captain’s mind. Ajay Lalcheta was former Oman national team captain and also left arm spinner. He gave me a chance to be a part of his team in Al Tasnim League organized by Al Tasnim Enterprises.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-arm_unorthodox_spin

That was tough period. I never played T20 format before. In Sri Lanka we played 50 overs matches but that was 15 years before. I did my exercise hard as much as I can. I controlled my food, but I couldn’t reduce my weight less than 87kg. Some people smiled while I was doing the bowling. Every time my stomach was travel before the me. But I never stopped doing bowling till end of the net session. Finally, I have selected to Tasnim Royal’s playing 11 for the first match of the TCL 2018.

That was amazing feeling in the ground at evening under flood lights. Even though I was in near 40s, I felt like a school cricketer. I had experience playing under the flood lights in soft ball tournaments. But this was totally different.

Match began,

https://cricheroes.in/scorecard/217023/Tasnim-Cricket-League/Tasnim-Royals-vs-Tasnim-Daredevils

We got 199 runs on board. Ajay and Banty played well knock and Chatura did his anchoring roll. With the large number in the board we had enough freedom to ball in second session. Ajay gave me the ball for fourth over and he need very tide over without extras. His advice was don’t try to do the many things and do the ball wicket to wicket.

Match end with remarkable win to Tasnim Royals. I completed my 4 overs with 4 wickets for 22 runs and adjudicated as Man of the Match. 

https://cricheroes.in/player-profile/1668002/ASANKA-BANDARA

That was unbelievable come back after 15 years…….

 So don’t give-up. Try hard, fight hard, if you want do it you can do it.

The corona menace showing us the same thing. Let's not give up on life. Let's get up together. The 2019 Tasnim Cricket League had to be stopped midway due to the corona. 2020 is now wind-up. We are hopeful for 2021.