The sky is the limit for go-getting club Saracens who have set its eyes on acquiring a home ground in the near future.
At its Annual General Meeting held last Sunday, Saracens Sports Club President Nuski Mohamed said he has been in discussion with Sri Lanka Cricket to get a permanent home for his roving band of cricketers led by former Sri Lankan all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana.
Despite the lack of facilities, Saracens bucked the odds when they upstaged the more fancied Colombo rivals to finish runners-up to Colombo Cricket Club in the Premier League tournament last season. Boosted by this remarkable achievement, veteran cricket administrator Mohamed, is now trying to urge Sri Lanka Cricket to lend a helping hand for his cherished Saracens who turn 80 this season.
“I’m talking to Sri Lanka Cricket and I hope these discussions will be fruitful. We don’t have a home ground but despite all the odds, we finished runners-up in the 14-team Premier League last season.
Just imagine what could be achieved if we had the facilities many of the other clubs have,” said Mohamed.
Driving the point home with all the aplomb of a Sangakkara cover drive, Mohamed praised his team for the courage and determination they had showed in overcoming a nomadic lifestyle. “We might not have big names in our side, but what we have is a united bunch of guys who have shown what is possible if everyone stays disciplined and is firm in their convictions. I believe discipline and unity are the twin pillars of our success,” Mohamed pointed out.
In 1971, Saracens lost their home ground – Rifle Green – when the government acquired the ground.
The loss of the current Air Force ground, right in the heart of the city, was a massive blow to one of the leading Controlling Clubs of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Saracens Sports Club have been training at the P. Sara Stadium with access to their indoor net and gym facilities and Mohamed thanked the Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club profusely for the wonderful support extended during the past couple of seasons.
“Full credit to the boys for finishing runners-up last season. There is a feel-good factor in the club and we all hope Sri Lanka Cricket will give us a helping hand,” said Club Secretary Muiyad Cader.
Club captain Nasser Majeed added: “We have to keep this momentum going and the perfect way to do that will be if the governing body is able to give us a helping hand to find a suitable ground.
It will be a major development for the game in Sri Lanka.”
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Saracens SC office bearers:
Patron: Thalath Ismail
President: Nuski Mohamed
Vice president: Zacky Macan Markar
Secretary: Muiyad Cader
Treasurer: Shibly Vilcassim
Club captain: Nasser Majeed
Assistant secretary: SD Macan Markar
Assistant treasurer: Sabry Ibraham
Executive Committee: Dinesh Kumarasinghe, Bilal Mohamed,Shireen Hussain, Ramly Vilcassim, Edgar Thevarayan, Shiyam Mohamed, Thushan Amarasuriya