Cricket fraternity mourns Bandula Warnapura’s demise

Warnapura
had
his
right
leg
amputated
earlier
this
month
after
being
diagnosed
with
high
sugar
levels,
which
hindered
his
blood
circulation,
according
to
local
media
reports.

Born
in
1953,
Warnapura
played
12
One-day
Internationals
and
four
Tests
from
1975-1982
including
the
1975
and
1979
ICC
Men’s
Cricket
World
Cups.

The
Sri
Lankan
cricketers
wore
a
black
arm
band
before
their
ICC
T20
World
Cup
2021
Qualifier
tie
against
Namibia
in
Abu
Dhabi
on
Monday,
while
the
ICC
also
paid
a
tribute
with
a
two
minutes
silence
before
the
start
of
play
at
the
Sheikh
Zayed
Stadium.

Sri
Lanka
will
be
wearing
a
black
arm
band
during
today’s
match
as
tribute
to
late
Bandula
Warnapura.
Also
ICC
had
a
tribute
with
a
two
minutes
silence
before
the
start
of
play

pic.twitter.com/2Zz6qvZNSA

—
Azzam
Ameen
(@AzzamAmeen)

October
18,
2021

Bandu
as
he
was
popularly
known,
played
a
leadership
role
in
developing
cricket
in
Asia
starting
at
Sri
Lanka
Cricket
(SLC)
as
Senior
Manager
Operations
and
later
joined
the
Asian
Cricket
Council
(ACC)
as
Development
manager
from
2007
to
2015.

He
then
joined
the
ICC
in
the
same
role
and
retired
in
2017,
where
he
achieved
some
of
his
biggest
contributions
to
cricket,
supporting
a
number
of
Associate
Members
and
developing
the
game
around
the
world.

ICC
Acting
Chief
Executive,
Geoff
Allardice
said:
“We’re
deeply
saddened
to
hear
the
passing
of
Bandula,
he
achieved
many
things
in
cricket,
not
just
as
his
time
as
Sri
Lanka
captain,
but
also
as
a
former
colleague
at
the
ICC.
His
service
to
the
game
in
Asia
cannot
be
underestimated,
our
thoughts
are
with
his
family
and
friends
at
this
time.”

Former
Sri
Lankan
captain
Kumar
Sangakkara
paid
rich
tributes
to
Warnapura

“Deeply
saddened
by
the
passing
away
of
Bandula
Warnapura.
He
did
immense
service
to
Sri
Lankan
and
Asian
cricket
as
a
player
and
an
administrator.
It
was
such
a
joy
to
chat
to
him
on
everything
cricket.
A
good
and
gentle
man.
We
will
miss
him.
Our
thoughts
are
with
his
loved
ones,”
Sangakkara
tweeted.

Deeply
saddened
by
the
passing
away
of
Bandula
Warnapura.
He
did
immense
service
to
Sri
Lankan
and
Asian
cricket
as
a
player
and
an
administrator.
It
was
such
a
joy
to
chat
to
him
on
everything
cricket.
A
good
and
gentle
man.
We
will
miss
him.
Our
thoughts
are
with
his
loved
ones

—
Kumar
Sangakkara
(@KumarSanga2)

October
18,
2021

SLC
also
joined
the
cricket
community
in
mourning
their
first
Test
captain’s
demise.

“Sri
Lanka
Cricket
is
deeply
saddened
to
learn
of
the
passing
away
of
Bandula
Warnapura,
Sri
Lanka’s
first
Test
Captain.
We
wish
to
express
our
condolences
to
the
family
at
this
difficult
time
on
behalf
of
Sri
Lanka’s
Cricketing
fraternity,”
SLC
tweeted
from
their
official
handle.

Sri
Lanka
Cricket
is
deeply
saddened
to
learn
of
the
passing
away
of
Bandula
Warnapura,
Sri
Lanka’s
first
Test
Captain.

We
wish
to
express
our
condolences
to
the
family
at
this
difficult
time
on
behalf
of
Sri
Lanka’s
Cricketing
fraternity.

READ:https://t.co/V1ukJxeHO8
pic.twitter.com/ORdvXT3nZT

—
Sri
Lanka
Cricket
????????
(@OfficialSLC)

October
18,
2021

An
opening
batsman
with
a
solid
technique,
Warnapura
was
also
a
capable
medium-pace
bowler.

Not
only
did
he
lead
the
Sri
Lankan
side
in
its
maiden
Test
match
in
February
1982
against
England,
but
he
also
faced
the
first
ball
and
scored
the
first
run
for
the
island
nation.

He
also
achieved
the
rare
record
of
opening
the
batting
and
opening
the
bowling
(second
innings)
in
the
same
game.

Always
a
sentimental,
Warnapura
was
handed
a
life
ban
from
Sri
Lankan
cricket
after
he
decided
to
tour
apartheid
South
Africa
with
a
rebel
team
in
1982-83.

He
later
served
as
the
national
team’s
coach
as
well
as
an
administrator
at
SLC.

(With
inputs
from
ICC
Media
and
other
Agencies)