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On a cricket mission to Sri Lanka

RARING TO GO: Members of the Kerala Veterans’ Cricket Association team touring Sri Lanka.

Invoking the spirit with which they played the game when young and exuding confidence of performing well, a 23-member veterans’ cricket team under the banner of the Kerala Veterans’ Cricket Association (KVCA) left for Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Led by the former Kerala Ranji team captain and all-rounder S. Ramesh, the team includes the former Indian wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani. Co-sponsored by The-Hindu, the KVCA team will play three matches against the Sri Lankan Cavaliers during its week-long tour to the tear-shaped island.

That all of them still hold the game of cricket close to their heart was evident at a get-together arranged at a city hotel on Friday night. Said J.K. Mahendra, vice-president of the All India Veterans’ Cricket Association, “Having strived to put our best foot forward when we were young, moved away after a few years and having got involved in family life, it is time to get back to the game and share the old spirit for a while.” D. Chandrasenan Nair, manager of the side and the livewire behind the KVCA, was also eloquent: “It is only a few months back that we hosted the Sri Lankan Cavaliers in Kochi. And we never thought that an opportunity to tour Sri Lanka will come so soon, which is what makes this trip so exciting.”

The team will play the Sri Lankan Cavaliers under Arjuna Ranatunga at the SSC ground in Colombo on Sunday before taking on the opposition again on Monday and Wednesday at the Colts ground and NCC ground, also in Colombo, respectively.

Other than Ramesh, Mahendra and Kirmani, the team includes former Ranji Trophy players such as O.K. Ramdas, B. Ramprakash, Thomas Mathew, D. Gopakumar, S. Narayana Menon, P. Jayaraj and T.R. Sudheesh. All are trying to give their best shot and bring back glory to the State and the country from this historic goodwill tour.

A. Vinod

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