Allrounder Lahiru Abeysinghe is one of the most promising young cricketers on the horizon and is expected to go places in the future.
He captained St. Anthony’s College and was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19 team as well after he nudged the selectors by showing his prowess during the inter school season.
He models himself on Ben Stokes and will stop at nothing in his quest to reach his future goals like playing for the Sri Lanka team.
What is special about Abeysinghe is that he is a fighter who has come up the hard way and learnt from setbacks that he experienced along the way.
“I want to be a well educated professional cricketer,” he said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.
Excerpts of an interview:
Q: Describe yourself in one word?
Friendly
Q: Any words or phrases you overuse?
Don’t give up
Q: What is your most marked characteristic?
Ben Stokes
Q: If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I don’t want anything to be changed because all those struggles and challenges I faced made who I am today
Q: What is the most important thing in your life?
Making my parents happy till the end
Q: Who has influenced you the most?
My mother, father, sister, grandmother and cousin
Q: Are you fashionable?
I guess so
Q: If you had access to a time machine what would you change?
As I said before I’d rather look to my future than changing anything
Q: What motivates you in your life?
Every challenge I went through so far
Q: If you could choose any career right now, what would it be?
To be a well educated professional cricketer
Q: What forms of music do you listen to?
It depends on the mood though but I prefer mostly classical music
Q: What’s the best thing you would like to hear from someone?
You made us proud
Q: What made you to choose sports?
Since my childhood I have been watching cricket matches and my parents realised I had a passion for sports. So they guided me on this journey.
Q: Thus far what was your most unforgettable sporting incident?
The day I was lucky enough to represent my country at this age (Sri Lanka Under-19)
Q: What’s your best school sporting achievement?
I am proud to say that I was awarded the college Colours and the Eaglesman at St. Anthony’s College, Kandy
Q: What is your idea of happiness?
Living a peaceful life
Q: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
I avoid fake people at all costs
Q: What has been your biggest disappointment?
Losing the Battle of the Blues one-day encounter (against Trinity College) and the quarter finals in the 2021/22 season
Q: Most important lesson life has taught you?
Chase your dreams till you win