17 year old Sajith Sameera has been appointed Captain of the Zahira College Cricket team for the 2016/17 season. Captaining one’s school team is the highest honour for any schoolboy cricketer and he has achieved it purely on his outstanding performances, sound application of skills taught, self-discipline, determination, loyalty, team spirit and exemplary leadership qualities.
What is noteworthy and in a sense stunning, is that he is probably the first Non-Muslim in more than 50 Years to have been made cricket captain in the nation’s foremost Muslim school. The school has had players from all communities represent the team but Sameera is only the 3rd such captain in Zahira’s 125 year history.
The message sent by the Zahira administration is loud and clear; all what matters is that the best man gets the job.
Sameera’s appointment is not only ground breaking, but hopefully it will serve to encourage schools to break away from self-imposed negative barriers that have no place in society.
Being given the captaincy is a just and fitting reward for Sameera as he has maintained an excellent record during the past years.
In the first half of the present season, he scored 514 runs including 2 centuries and has taken 40 wickets that include 3 five wicket hauls. It is not surprising that he has emerged as the best all-rounder in the Western province too.
Another Zahirian to watch out for is 15 year old Mohamed Shamaaz, an elegant right handed batsman with great potential. Having impressed the selectors, he has captained the Western Province U 15 team.
Zahira has a young team, with an average age of 17, and have already outplayed S. Thomas’ Mt. Lavinia and table leaders St Aloysius, Galle in the season thus far and as such, the team, coached by Pradeep Nishantha, is brimming with confidence.
All credit for the success of the team must go to the school Principal Trizvyy Marikkar and his able team of administrators, guided by the Sports Council, Cricket Committee who have been given outstanding support by the Past Cricketers’ Association.
