The premier Cricket tournament in Ceylon since 1950/51, bears the name of an illustrious sports administrator of this country. In all too short a life span Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu achieved a miracle for Ceylon Cricket. He built the first Cricket Stadium in the short span of 3 years - at the height of World War II, when supplies by ship to this country were very short. Educated at St. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, Saravanamuttu was a good right hand batsman, “P. Sara” as he was popularly known, came from a well known family with 3 brothers, all good cricketers. “P. Sara” passed into the Ceylon Civil Service and served the British Government for nearly 30 years. A Government Services Cricket Competition record stands to P. Sara’s credit after 55 years. In 1925, P. Saravanamuttu (144) and S.B.L. Perera (149) put on 293 rungs for the 5 th wicket for the Kachcheri vs. Treasury in the ‘A’ Division.
A much respected Civil Servant, he had access to the High Command of the British Forces in Ceylon who were ever prepared to help him. “P. Sara” is the Architest & Builder of the COLOMBO OVAL. He did not name the stadium after a Saravanamuttu. British Army Commander in Ceylon, Major General H.E. de S. Wetherall, gave him unstinted support. The Stadium became a reality in 1940, and the Pavilion came up in 1945. But for the “P. Sara” and the Colombo Oval, where would Ceylon have played its unofficial tests. Sri Lanka’s FIRST TEST (against England), was played at the Oval. P. Saravanamuttu was President of the Ceylon Cricket Association from 1937 to 1949, and the FIRST President of the BCCSL in 1948/49. He passed away during his second year in office in 1949/50. Ceylon’s other suitable venue for International matches came around 1958.
The P. SARAVANAMUTTU Trophy was first offered by the BCCSL., for Division I Clubs in 1950/51. This Trophy replaced the Daily News Trophy presented by D.R. Wijewardena, Proprietor Lake House Newspapers in 1930. Appropriately, the first winners of the P. SARAVANAMUTTU Trophy were Tamil Union C & Ac. The team was lead by Sathi Coomaraswamy, who had M. Sathasivam as Deputy. Others who played during the season were S. Pathmanathan, T. Murugaser, S. Nagendra, C.Dharmalingam, T.B. Fernandopulle, F.X.J. Casiechetty, T. Jayalingam, T. Parathlingam, J.A.R. Felix. A. Mylvaganam, A.S. David & S. Kadirgamar.
Tamil Union & AC have won the P. Sara (1950/51) Donovan Andre (1960/61) and the G.T.E. (Limited Over Under 23) Trophy (1990/91) all in the inaugural year. The Club has provided Ceylon Captain M. Sathasiwam, S. Saravanamuttu, President BCCSL P. Saravanamuttu & S. Saravanamuttu. vie President R. Mahendran, T. Murugaser and Hony. Secretary BCCSL in S. Pathmanadan and S. Skandakumar.
Initially, for a short period, the trophy matches were of 1-1/2 days duration, then extended to 2 days. On 1964/65, the Board of Control for Cricket took a bold step towards development of cricket in Ceylon by extending the duration of matches to 3 days play – 5-1/2 hours each day, in the P. Saravanamuttu & Robert Senanayake Trophy Tournaments. Due to leave difficulties for players on the Friday, the BCCSL reverted to 2 day games in 1968/69. This process continued until 1980/81
In 1976/77, the BCCSL adopted the 8 ball over in the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy Tournament, but reverted to the 6 ball over in 1977. Earlier in 1938/39, the Ceylon Cricket Association experimented with the 8 ball in their tournament, but reverted to the 6 ball over, one year later. The Board of Control again started 3 day games in 1981/82, for the FINAL round matches as in the 1964-1969 period. The rising cost of cricket materials, ground fees, umpires fees, practically everything connected with Cricket made the BCCSL look for sponsorship.
The keep the game alive the BCCSL had to part with the 33 year connection to the name P. Saravanamuttu. The trophy was replaced by the LAKSPRAY Trophy offered by Lanka Milk Foods Ltd., in 1982/83.
The Lanka Milk Food sponsorship ended in 1988/89. The new sponsors in 1989/90, Gibeys (Lanka) Ltd., graciously agreed to retain the name, “P. Saravanamuttu Trophy”. P. Saravanamuttu stadium is a monument to a personality who served Ceylon Cricket for a period of 13 years. P. Saravanamuttu, born on 26 April 1892, passed away on 28 May 1950, at the age of 55 years.
HIGHEST TOTALS
HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES
LOWEST TOTALS
CENTURY DEBUT
1000 RUNS IN A SEASON
CARRYING OUT BAT
CENTURY BEFORE LUNCH
LAST MAN TOP SCORES
FASTEST 100’S
FASTEST 50’S
MOST FOURS IN ONE INNINGS
MOST RUNS IN ONE SROKE
MOST SIXES IN AN INNINGS
CENTURY & HATTRICK
BEST ALL ROUND PERFORMANCES
MOST RUNS IN AN OVER
BEST PARTNERSHIPS
10 WKT S IN AN INNINGS
OTHER BEST (Bowling)
HATRICKS
FOUR WICKET IN FOUR SUCCESIVE DELIVEREIS
CRICKET CAPTAINS OF THE CLUB
HOCKEY CAPTAINS OF THE CLUB
TENNIS CAPTAINS OF THE CLUB
PATRONS OF THE CLUB
VICE-PATRON
PRESIDENTS
CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE
TRUSTEES OF OTHER CLUB
PRESENT
PAST
PRESENT
PAST