Our National Pride.
(Dedicated to our cricket stars)

Daya Nikahetiya

It was an unlucky day for all of us
The final day of the cricket world cup,
It started badly and ended up with the worst,
.......but no matter what ever the result was
You played gentlemen cricket...
and showed the world your strong character,
........ willpower and team sprit!

Those raindrops wildly hit the play ground
Causing damage to the game, delaying it to start
First we lost the toss........
and then there were some confusion
A couple of misjudgements and hotchpotch
"A hidden squash ball inside bottom hand glove"
continual play breaks...and bad light
That day everything went against us.

Some tried to demoralize our cricket stars,
from the beginning of the world cup series
Brought politics into the play ground to embarrass,
and raised "play to rule" campaign against us
wanted to discuss internal affairs on the cricket pitch,
to bring disgrace to this nation world wide
Aiming to keep the world cup in their hands!

Though the pressure around was enormous
you were able to over come all challenges,
with patience, determination and team effort
Never reacted negatively with a long face,
but faced to the ball with a smile always
Played gentlemen cricket up to the last second,
respecting to rules of the game as real sportsmen.
........In the beautiful Caribbean islands,
and became runners-up in the 2007 world cup!

What ever the result is.....victory or defeat
You played your role as great sportsmen,
showed your colours in one day cricket,
and played the game of cricket
..........according to the rules of the game
Though you lost the world cup in 2007,
you were able to win millions of cricket fans,
and the sympathy around the world!

Dear Cricket stars....please allow me to say this
"You are an asset........an honour to us
to all Sri Lankans, rich or poor....young and old
Win or loss you play good cricket....
You are the symbol of fairness, our national pride
The peace makers who internationally represent us
who bring credit to this nation....courage to our mind!
We all together wish you every success,
in international cricket and in every aspect!"