Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was crowned Dialog Cricketer of the Year while Asela Gunaratne bagged 4 awards at the Dialog Cricket Awards 2017 held on Tuesday, 31st October at Water’s Edge, Grand Ballroom.
Herath won the Dialog Cricketer of the Year for the first-time, dethroning former Captain Angelo Mathews who had won the title in the past three years. Herath was also the clear-cut choice as the Test bowler of the year after his excellent run during the period of consideration, June 2016 to June 2017.
Gunaratne, who stormed into the international scene during this period bagged four awards, T20I Batsman of the Year, All-rounder of the Year in both T20Is and ODIs and Most Promising Cricketer of the Year.
Photo Album – Dialog Cricket Awards 2017
Dhananjaya De Silva who top-scored for Sri Lanka in the series against Australia last year was named the Test Batsman of the Year while Dilruwan Perera, who has been a great servant of Sri Lanka Cricket with both bat and ball was named Test All-rounder of the Year.
Niroshan Dickwella was named Emerging Cricketer of the Year while, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga and Kusal Mendis also bagged awards despite Sri Lanka’s lean run in limited-overs cricket.
In the special awards category, Kumar Dharmasena won the International Umpire of the Year award while Neil Perera was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Sunday Times sports editor, Champika Fernando won the prestigious Journalist of the Year award.
The glittering red carpet gathering brought together the cricketing elite including the former World Cup winning Indian captain – legendary Kapil Dev who graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour along with Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera who was the Chief Guest of the evening.
“I have seen your cricket growing from a very young age, I was very young when I started playing for India and that’s the time when Sri Lanka got recognition in the world arena. In a short span, you have done that and it’s not only because of the cricketers, I think it’s the effort of everybody. Despite losing most of the matches for the first 15 years, the people used to come back to the ground and loved you with passion” Kapil Dev stated in his address.
This year’s awards ceremony saw at least 60 awards being presented in both women’s and men’s cricket locally and internationally.
Women’s Cricket – (T20 – Division 1)
Best Batswoman – Prasidini Weerakkody (Navy SC)
Best Bowler – Janakanthi Mala (Colts CC)
Best All Rounder – Chamari Atapattu (Air Force SC)
Runners-Up (2016) – Army Sports Club
Winner (2016) – Air Force Sports Club
Women’s Cricket – (50 Over – Division 1)
Best Batswoman – Lasanthi Madushani (Navy SC)
Best Bowler – Inoka Ranaweera (Navy SC)
Best All Rounder – Chamari Atapattu (Air Force SC)
Runners-Up (2016) – Army Sports Club
Winner (2016) – Air Force Sports Club
Under 23 (Division 1 – T20)
Best Batsman – Lahiru Udara (NCC)
Best Bowler – Ramesh Mendis (SSC)
Best All Rounder – Ramesh Mendis (SSC)
Runners-Up (2016) – Sinhalese Sports Club
Winner (2016) – Army Sports Club
Under 23 (Division 1)
Best Batsman – Krishan Sanjula (SSC)
Best Bowler – Chalana De Silva (Chilaw Marians)
Best All Rounder – Kasun Vidura (Chilaw Marians)
Runners-Up (2016) – Army Sports Club
Winner (2016) – Chilaw Marians Cricket Club
Premier League Tier B
Best Batsman – Hashan Prabath (Kurunegala YCC)
Best Bowler – Chamikara Edirisinghe (SL Ports Authority)
Best All Rounder – Rajeewa Weerasinghe (Lankan CC)
Runners-Up (2016) – Panadura SC
Winner (2016) – SL Ports Authority CC
Inter-District Limited Overs
Best Batsman – Harsha Cooray (Kilinochchi District)
Best Bowler – Sanjika Ridma (Badulla District)
Best All Rounder – Ashan Priyanjan (Colombo District)
Runners-Up (2016) – Kegalle District
Winner (2016) – Colombo District
Premier League Tier A
Best Batsman – Sadeera Samarawickrama (Colts CC)
Best Bowler – Malinda Pushpakumara (Chilaw Marians CC)
Best All Rounder – Chathuranga De Silva (NCC)
Runners-Up (2016) – Chilaw Marians CC
Winner (2016) – Sinhalese Sports Club
Domestic Umpire of the Year – Ranmore Martinez
Domestic Match Referee of the Year – Wendell Labrooy
Lifetime Achievement Award – Neil Perera
International Umpire of the Year – Kumar Dharmasena
Journalist of the Year – Champika Fernando
T20I Batswoman of the year – Chamari Atapattu
T20I Women’s bowler of the year – Sugandika Kumari
ODI Batswoman of the year – Chamari Atapattu
ODI Women’s Bowler of the year – Inoka Ranaweera
T20I Batsman of the year – Asela Gunaratne
T20I Bowler of the year – Lasith Malinga
T20I All-rounder of the year – Asela Gunaratne
ODI Batsman of the year – Kusal Mendis
ODI Bowler of the year – Suranga Lakmal
ODI All-rounder of the year – Asela Gunaratne
Test Batsman of the year – Dhananjaya De Silva
Test Bowler of the year – Rangana Herath
Test All-rounder of the year – Dilruwan Perera
Emerging Cricketer of the year (domestic) – Ron Chandragupta
Most Promising Cricketer (domestic) – Wanindu Hasaranga
Emerging Cricketer of the Year – Niroshan Dickwella
Most Promising Cricketer – Asela Gunaratne
Dialog Women’s Cricketer of the Year – Chamari Atapattu
Dialog Cricketer of the Year – Rangana Herath