Some experts who have followed his cricket contend that he can be the next Thisara Perera the now retired power hitter and crucial strike bowler. If that be the case then Lahiru Samarakoon can fit into the boots of Thisara Perera or be an all-rounder ideally suited for what is called the white ball game.
Samarakoon could find a place in anyone’s team or anyone who owns a franchise and is on the look-out for a trump card.
A product of Dharmaraja College, he made his List ‘A’ debut in 2015 in the AIA Premier Limited Overs Tournament and in that same year was named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Samarakoon made his first-class debut for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in the 2016–17, Premier League Tournament and his T-20 debut was at Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in the 2017/18 season.
In March 2018, he was named in Kandy’s squad for the 2017–18, Super Four Provincial tournament and in that same year had a stint with Camberley Cricket Club in England for the 2018 season.
He finished with 33 wickets at 15.36 and 301 runs at 30.10 as Camberley finished fourth in the Surrey Championship First Division.
Returning to Sri Lanka in 2020 he was drafted by the Kandy Tuskers for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League and in the following year in August he was named in the SLC Blues team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament.
At present he plays for the Moors Cricket Club in the Premier Cricket tournament.
For him, getting better never stops and sees hurdles as the best form of motivation.
“If I see a weakness in me, I will try to change that into power. Cricket was in my blood since my childhood and you cannot take that away easily,” Samarakoon told the Sunday Observer in an interview. He has a strike rate of 146.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: Describe yourself in one word?
Enthusiastic
Q: Any words or phrases you overuse?
Never give up
Q: What is your most marked characteristic?
Being kind
Q: If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Minor mistakes
Q: What is the most important thing in your life?
Cricket
Q: Who has influenced you the most?
My family
Q: Are you fashionable?
Yes
Q: If you had access to a time machine what would you change?
I would change weaknesses into power
Q: What motivates you in your life?
My beloved wife
Q: If you could choose any career right now, what would it be other than cricket?
A businessman
Q: What forms of music do you listen to?
It will be classical music
Q: What’s the best thing you would like to hear from someone?
Compliments about my cricket
Q: What made you to choose sports?
I chose cricket because I liked to be a cricketer since my childhood
Q: Thus far what was your most unforgettable sporting incident?
Becoming National Super League best bowler
Q: What’s your best school sporting achievement?
When I picked up 10 wickets in the school big match for Dharmaraja College against Kingswood College
Q: What is your idea of happiness?
Being kind to the world
Q: What is the factor that you most deplore in others?
Favouritism
Q: What has been your biggest disappointment?
Thus far not being able to play for the Sri Lanka team
Q: Most important lesson life has taught you?
Not to give up at any cost