In an era where the values of the Gentleman’s game is being compromised even at the International level, it was breathtaking to witness the sportsmanship of an exceptional order and this by a mere a school boy during an intensely poised encounter between two leading cricket playing schools, Zahira College Colombo and Dharmaraja College, Kandy that commenced on the 29th of October 2016 at the Zahira College grounds in Maradana.
Dharmaraja were 199 for 9 in reply to Zahira’s 204 in the first innings. Trailing by just 5 runs Rukmal Dissanayake from Dharmaraja College with his score at 4* runs was at the crease and was adjudged not out for a caught behind appeal. Displaying a gesture of overwhelming sportsmanship, Rukmal decided spontaneously, to walk. There was a stunned, shocked and bewildered silence. Then as it became clear that Rukmal had sacrificed his own and his team’s glory for the true spirit of cricket, a thunder of cheers and applause followed and Rukmal returned to the pavilion with the everyone at the ground honoring him with a standing ovation.
The game ended in a draw with Zahira College posting 275/9 in the second innings. For Dharmaraja, Rukmal Dissanyake collected a fifer with figures 5/83 in the second innings and had a match bag of 9 wickets having taken 4/59 in the first.
At the end of the game, Principal Zahira College Mr.Trizviiy Marikkar along with members of the Board of Governors and the Cricket Committee congratulated both teams for a grand game of cricket played in the highest traditions. On behalf of the Zahira College Past Cricketers’ Association (PCA) the Principal amidst thunderous applause handed over a very special award to Rukmal Dissanayake.
Speaking to ThePapare.com, Mazhar Zuhair the President of Past Cricket Association (PCA) of Zahira College said, “Cricket needs to be taught as a way of life for every player. Although not every school boy cricketer will end up playing for Sri Lanka, the intrinsic values, spirit, traditions, customs and disciplines of cricket will help to groom the boys to meet the challenges they face in life after they leave school. That’s why it’s important that we encourage hard and fair play, respect and integrity among our boys above merely winning at all costs”.
It was a great gesture by the Zahirians to felicitate the young cricketer for holding the spirit of the game in high regard over victory of his team as this moment will be remembered by everyone involved as a classy act that is rare in the current game.
Rukmal Dissanayake’s decision to walk meant that his Alma-mater Dharmaraja College would be all out for 199 just 5 runs short of the target letting the Zahirians earn the points for the first innings victory. A rare selfless act by this youngster proves that despite the competitiveness that plagues the entire world there is hope for the future with courageous young men like Rukmal in the fold.
Who won the game is going to be forgotten in a few years where as this gesture and the name of Rukmal Dissanayake will be remembered for a long time.
