Cricketer Abu Fuard is remembered on his eighth death anniversary, He died at the age of 76 on 28th July 2012, He was a former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer and administrator. He represented Ceylon in first-class cricket between 1956 and 1970. He gave a big hand for cricket and on September 11, 1985, when Sri Lanka recorded their maiden Test victory against India at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium it was the finest moment for Abu who was the chairman of the National Selection Committee which he served for nearly a decade. When Sri Lanka won the first Test, he was the team manager of the national side. He was one of the best administrators in the field of cricket at that time. When he was in office he did a lot of good work in refurbishing the indoor cricket nets and several other modern cricket stadiums such as the Asgiriya International Stadium owned by Trinity College and Khettarama Stadium now called the R.Premadasa Stadium.. Abu as he was called gave his best as a player and administrator. In single-innings matches against touring sides Abu Fuard took the wickets of many prominent test batsmen.  

He was educated at Wesley College, Colombo, and played in turn for Moors Sports Club, Colts Cricket Club and Colombo Cricket Club.. An off-spinner who sometimes opened the batting, he made his first-class debut in the Gopalan Trophy in 1956-57, taking two wickets and two catches and making 15 runs in a low-scoring victory for Ceylon. In the 1960-61 Gopalan Trophy match he top-scored in Ceylon’s first innings with 68 batting at number 10, then took 3 for 44 and 2 for 75 in a 169-run victory for Ceylon.  

He toured India with Ceylon in 1964-65 and played in all three matches against India but had little success with the ball,taking only two wickets. In the third match, however, when Ceylon needed 112 to win and the regular opener was injured, Abu Fuard opened the batting on a difficult pitch and top-scored with 40 and Ceylon won by four wickets.  

 Against the International XI in1967-68 he took 6 for 31. He took the wickets of many prominent Test batsmen: Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson when the Australians visited inApril 1961, Tom Graveney, Peter Parfitt, Ray Illingworth and Fred Titmus against MCC in October 1962, Norman O’Neill and Bob Cowper against the Australians in April 1964, Parfitt again, Mike Smith, John Murray and Jim Parks against MCC in October 1966, John Edrich against MCC in January 1969, and Doug Walters against the Australians in October that year. His last first-class wicket, in February 1970, was of Geoff Boycott.  

Abu served as a cricket administrator, manager, curator, coach and national selector. He was manager and coach for Sri Lanka in the 1975World Cup and assistant manager when Sri Lanka recorded their first win over a Test-playing nation during the 1979World Cup. He also managed the team that won Sri Lanka’s first Test victory, over India in September 1985, as well as the touring team to England in 1988.  

A forceful man, he was one of the key administrators behind the successful push for Sri Lanka’s admission to Test status. However, he could be tough, and he made enemies as well as admirers. He was behind the appointment of two of the selectors for Ceylon’s first-ever tour of England in 1968.  

He was a off spinner, who also opened the batting, took 51first-class wickets from 19 matches and scored 406 runs. But his major contribution to Sri Lankan cricket came as an administrator, manager, curator,coach and as a national selector.  

Itis a truth of life to those who believe, that “God blesses those who give of their lives and resources” – giving of your time, giving of your talents and giving of your love, be it in the ‘recreation’ of Sports or in the creation of life! To those who know, ‘Thanking God’ is a great act of simple gratitude – but with it comes greater gain! Abu Fuard worked hard in what ever he applied himself – to reap a harvest of rewards! Like the farmer who ‘puts his hand to the plough’ in the field and plods on, to pluck the fruits of success and distributing the delights with others. Abu did likewise in his’long innings’ of over 30 years in his illuminating Cricketing career, on and off the cricket fields! His memory and inspiration will live on among all of us.