Sabapathypillai Illangaratnam

Sabapathypillai Illangaratnam (18 December 1947 – 16 July 2007) was a leading Sri Lankan cricketer who played in the era prior to Sri Lanka gaining Test status.

Sabapathypillai Illangaratnam
Personal information
Full name
Sabapathypillai Illangaratnam
Born(1947-12-18)18 December 1947
Jaffna, Ceylon
Died(2007-07-16)16 July 2007
Sri Lanka
RoleFast-medium pace bowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1977Sri Lanka
Umpiring information
LA umpired1 (2002)
Career statistics
Competition List A
Matches 1
Runs scored -
Batting average -
100s/50s –/–
Top score -
Balls bowled 32
Wickets 0
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings –/–

Early life

Born in Irupalai in Jaffna, Illangaratnam attended Colombo Hindu College in Ratmalana and gained employment at the Bank of Ceylon, initially as a junior clerk at the bank's city office, the largest Ceylon Bank branch at the time.

Playing career

Illangaratnam first played A division cricket for Bank of Ceylon in tournaments conducted by the Nationalised Services’ Cricket Association. Illange, as he was affectionately called, was picked for the Moratuwa Sports Club team to play in the premiere Sri Lankan cricket tournament, the P Saravanamuttu Trophy, opening the bowling with Sylvester Dias.

Illangaratnam later joined the Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in Colombo. He opened the bowling with Susantha Karunarathne and provided him with the opportunity to play along with future Test players such as Bandula Warnapura, Lalith Kaluperuma, Anura Ranasinghe and Ajit de Silva. During his playing period, Illangaratnam had to compete with quality fast bowlers such as Ranjan Goonathilake, Susantha Karunarathne, D.L.S. De Silva and Tony Opatha.

Illangaratnam's sole List A match was in 1977, representing Sri Lanka against the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) team at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, bowling four wicketless overs and not batting.[1][2]

Following his retirement from competitive cricket, Illangaratnam captained Bloomfield's Division II team, winning the Division II competition In 1993–94. He also played for veterans' club Lanka Cavalier, led by Warnapura.

Coaching and administration

Following the end of his playing career, Illangaratnam was made Bloomfield's Division II coach and later appointed coach for the Premier Division side, a position he held until his death. He was a member of the executive committee of the club and acted as a match referee.

Illangaratnam was involved with a team of cricket coaches from the Cricket Operations Department of the Board of Cricket Control for Sri Lanka (BCCSL), headed by Bandula Warnapura, Anusha Samaranayake, Gamini Perera, P. Milton, Manjula Karunaratne and S. Shamugalingam in conducting a five-day cricket coaching programme from the 12 to 16 November 2002 up north of the country for the first time following the conclusion of the Sri Lankan Civil War. Illangaratnam contributed to this noble cause by travelling to remote areas to conduct coaching camps with the cavaliers.

In 2002, Illangaratnam served as a referee and umpire in Sri Lankan domestic cricket. He was an umpire in one List A match between the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club and the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club.[3][4]

He held the position of Assistant Secretary of Bloomfield.

Illangaratnam died aged 59, still working at the Bank of Ceylon, counting over 45 years of service at the time of his death.[5] He was survived by his wife and two daughters.[6]

In his memory, the S. Illangaratnam Memorial Challenge Trophy was played between Lanka Cavaliers and the Bank of Ceylon Veterans.[7]

References
  1. "Saba Ilangaratnam". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  2. "Marylebone Cricket Club in Sri Lanka, 1976/77". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  3. "Saba Ilangaratnam as Umpire in List A Matches". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  4. "Saba Ilangaratnam as Referee in First-Class Matches". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  5. "Illangaratnam passes away". Sri Lanka Daily News. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  6. Thenabadu, Sunil. "Appreciation". The Sunday Leader. The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  7. "Illangaratnam Memorial Trophy tomorrow". The Daily Mirror (Colombo, Sri Lanka). 14 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
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