Inside UTSC recently caught up with Ruvindu Gunasekera, one of the youngest members of the Canadian national cricket team and a first-year co-op management student at UTSC. This past March, 19-year-old Gunasekera represented Canada at the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka. The national team had a difficult run at the tournament, but as you will read below, the team did register one very famous win. We wanted to hear more about this incredible experience, so we emailed Gunasekera some of our most burning questions. He responded from Sri Lanka, where he is playing domestic cricket for the summer.
IU: What was your first reaction when you found out you were going to be playing for the national cricket team in Sri Lanka?
RG: I was delighted to represent the country. I felt very lucky to play in a Cricket World Cup at the age of 19. As you might know, it’s a cricketer’s dream to play in the limelight event for cricket, the "ICC Cricket World Cup" which is also the third biggest sporting event in the world after the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. I’ve dreamt of playing at this stage since I first picked up a bat at the age of four. I’m over the moon to have played in two World Cups – the ICC U19 World Cup in 2010 and now the 2011 ICC World Cup – in the span of just one-and-a-half years.
IU: How did friends, family and faculty at UTSC react when you told them you were going to the Cricket World Cup?
RG: My family was really proud of me as they have had the same dreams as me. Everyone knew since I first picked up a bat as a little boy that my ambition was to be an international cricketer. All my friends and the faculty at UTSC were excited for what was coming up. They all congratulated me and encouraged me to do what I know best.
IU: What was your favourite experience at the tournament?
RG: My favourite moment, the one that I will cherish for a long time, is our victory over Kenya. It was a great achievement for us to beat one of the semi-finalists from the 2003 World Cup. This is a moment we will always cherish, the great memories of winning and all the celebrations. I feel very lucky to be a part of a great Canadian cricket team.
IU: How long have you been playing the sport?
RG: I have been playing cricket since I was very young but I first started training at the age of 7. I got my basics when I was in Sri Lanka. I’ve always been coached and trained by my Dad, who once played for the Sri Lankan ’A’ Team.
IU: How do you balance cricket training with your studies at UTSC?
RG: I’ve gotten used to balancing my education with my sports throughout my life. I made my debut for Canada when I was just 16, in Grade 10. From then on, I’ve always had to deal with my studies and my training toward becoming an international cricketer. I believe this helped me develop time-management and organizational skills. But I admit that it’s a bit harder in university due to the heavy workload. My solution these days is to take a couple of semesters off, as I’ve been away on tours prior to the World Cup as preparation for the big event. But I believe you can really improve your life skills by learning to balance your education with playing sports, or with other extracurricular activities.
IU: What advice would you give to other students balancing sports, school and co-op?
RG: I would highly recommend that everyone get involved in extracurricular activities while in school. It really helps you develop as an individual, helps you learn how to deal with various situations and work in team-oriented places. These are all invaluable skills for your life after university, which is when you actually enter the world as a highly skilled and knowledgeable person. However, there are numerous skills you need to learn that you don’t necessarily learn in school which I believe you can learn through such team environments. As a co-op student, I believe we get an early taste of the work place and we are lucky enough to see what it’s actually like to work in your preferred trade. So why not make a mark by enhancing your skills?