da fezbet： Sri Lankan allrounder Farveez Maharoof has said the Munchee Glucofit Sixes, conducted by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club (OWSC), is the ideal stepping stone for any schoolboy cricketer
Sa'adi Thawfeeq21-Sep-2009Sri Lankan allrounder Farveez Maharoof, one of the finest national cricketers to emerge from Wesley College, has said the Munchee Glucofit Sixes, conducted by the Old Wesleyites Sports Club (OWSC), is the ideal stepping stone for any schoolboy cricketer.During his five years with the college, Maharoof managed to play only one season of the tournament.”The tournament no doubt serves its purpose because it highlights the performance of any schoolboy by the publicity it gets through live television coverage,” Maharoof said.”The tournament, to be frank, didn’t help me personally because I hardly tookpart in it except in 1999 when we lost to Ananda College in the first round. But ithas definitely brought to the limelight several schoolboy cricketers whosometimes don’t get the publicity they deserve at regular school matches.”Maharoof was an outstanding allrounder and his talents were recognisedquickly by the national selectors when they picked him in virtually everyjunior national team, which is why he was hardly in Colombo to participate atthe Wesley Sixes.He went on to play in two Under-19 World Cup tournaments, captaining hiscountry in one.”I believe it’s a great concept organised by the OWSC and it should go fromstrength to strength,” said Maharoof who is recovering from an injurysustained in the one-day practice match, playing for Sri Lanka Cricket XIagainst New Zealand three weeks ago.Maharoof split the webbing of his left hand while attempting areturn catch and the injury required five stitches.Maharoof, a right-hand hard hitting batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler,made his debut for Sri Lanka at the age of 19 against Zimbabwe in 2004 andhas represented his country in 20 Tests and 91 one-day internationals. Heholds the best bowling record in the ICC Champions trophy with 6for 14 against West Indies in 2006.