Ravindu Gunasekera has represented Canada at a number of levels since moving to Canada from Sri Lanka in 2006. He captained the U19 side to the U19 World Cup, and played in 5 matches for Canada at the 2010-11 World Cup. He has been a mainstay of the team in recent years with his attacking opening batting, with a top score of 150 made in the Intercontinental Cup match against the Netherlands in 2013.

After 10 years in Canada, he is now trying to make the grade in Sri Lankan cricket, with his stated objective of represernting the country of his birth. The opportunities for development in Canada have been limited recently (the Netherlands match in 2013 was Canada’s last first-class game). He is playing first-class cricket for the Moors Sports Club in the Sri Lankan premier division. His first match was in late November against the Colts, where, opening the batting, he made 28 (from 12 balls) and 4 in an innings loss. Moors lost again in early December to Ragma Cricket Club (by 10 wickets). Gunasekera made 27 in the first innings and top scored with 57 in the second. He also took a wicket with his leg-spin – his bowing was rarely featured in Canada’s matches.
Moors managed a draw against the Army team, Gunasekera taking a wicket in each innings, and making 45 and 0. Another draw against Burgher Recreation followed, with Gunasekera making 50 and 13, and, after taking 1/14 in the first innings, taking 4/34 in the second, his best bowling in first-class cricket. 2016 ended with another draw against Saracens, Gunasekera making 6 in Moors only inings, and taking yet another wicket.

He currently tops the Moors bowling averages with 9 wickets at 17.88 and is averaging 25 with the bat.

It remains to be seen if we’ll see Ravindu playing for Canada again, but we wish him luck with his endeavours.
Video interview with ThePapare.com – “My dream has always been to play for Sri Lanka”