Pawan Ratnayake is a cricketer who captained Mahanama College Colombo as a promising right hand batsman and off spinner who displayed impressive skills with spectacular performances while representing the Sri Lanka under-19 team with distinction.
He was adjudged inter-school under 15 best batsman runner-up, best all rounder and became the under 15 schoolboy cricketer of the year in 2016.
He was also adjudged under 19 Division One Observer-Mobitel best batsman, best fielder and became the under 19 Most Popular schoolboy cricketer of the year in 2020.
Ratnayake captained Mahanama College under 13, 15, 17 and 19 teams as well. In 2017 he led Mahanama to become the all island ‘A’ Division cricket champions.
As a steady run-getter with a sound technique he has scored 14 centuries in under 19, ‘A’ Division inter-school cricket tournaments. He represents club team CCC in the Division 1 first class tournament and has a unique Sri Lankan first class record of been the youngest (at the age of just 17) to score a century as well as highest first class individual score of an unbeaten 164 at number eight position against Moors.
He became the youngest Sri Lankan to score a first class 150 plus at 17 years and highest first class individual score at number eight for CCC.
He played in the inter provincial tournament representing team ‘Blues’ under Dhananjaya de Silva.
Excerpts of an interview with the Sunday Observer:
Q: How did you enter the field of sports?
I was really active and talented since I was young and my parents saw my potential. I had many role models that I followed during my childhood and I wanted to follow them and be successful in my sports career. And that’s how I entered sports.
Q: Who has supported you to be successful in your cricketing career?
My family members always support me and motivate me. And also my cricket coaches have supported me throughout my cricket journey. I’m always grateful to all of them
Q: Why did you specially choose cricket?
Since I was a child I saw how cricket brings out team-spirit. I loved cricket it has been my favourite sport since I was young and so I wanted to play cricket and be successful
Q: What’s your top priority?
When it comes to my top priorities I’d say I want to be a better batsman in Sri Lanka
Q: Is it easy to be a cricketer?
Always it’s not easy to be a cricketer. It’s really challenging to balance my studies and cricket. As a cricketer I need to sacrifice quite a lot of time
Q: What’s your most unforgettable incident?
My most unforgettable memories are being the youngest first class cricket centurion in the country, become the Observer-Mobitel Division One Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 2020 and best batsman and fielder 2020. I really cherish those moments
Q: What’s your favourite destination?
I don’t have a favourite destination as such but during my holidays I love to travel out of Colombo.
Q: To date what are your biggest accomplishments?
During the year 2019/2020, I scored a total of 1227 runs inclusive of five centuries and one double century with an average of 87.4 playing 13 matches. During the 2019/2020 season I scored the most number of centuries and was the player who scored the most number of runs during that year and scored a match winning innings of 85 runs for the Sri Lanka Emerging team against the Bangladesh Emerging team. So I rate those moments as my biggest accomplishments so far
Q: What do you engage in your leisure time?
I play football with my friends
Q: Who do you really compare yourself to?
Honestly speaking I don’t really compare myself to others. I believe in myself and I work hard towards my success
Q: Are you really satisfied with what you have achieved?
As a young man, yes I’m really satisfied for everything that I have achieved thus far
Q: Who is your favourite cricketer?
Virat Kohli
Q: To date what’s your best compliment?
In 2019/2020 I played a match against Prince of Wales (under 19 Division One) where I scored 200 in my first innings and 100 in the second innings. Actually I received many compliments during that match regarding my fitness and batting skills. And I’d say that’s the best compliment I have received thus far in my life
Q: What’s your goal?
I want to represent my country
Q: How would you like to describe yourself?
I like to describe myself as an energetic and humble person in life
Q: What’s the kind of legacy you want to be remembered for?
By taking Sri Lanka cricket to a better position and that’s the kind of legacy I want to be remembered for
