History

The Geneva Sri Lanka Cricket Club (GESLCC) was found in 1982 within a very few Sri Lankans living in Geneva at the time. Sunil Perera, the founder member of the Club is also the President of GESLCC formed the club with 7 players, including his Swiss wife Jeannette Perera who knew little about cricket, participated in the first practice session in Vesey public park in Champel. The team was called Geneva Ceylon Cricket Club until 1984 and then changed the name to the present one based on the advice given by the management of Zurich Sri Lanka Cricket Club (ZHSLCC).

The first inaugural friendly match was played in Zurich on September 4, 1983 with the invitation of ZHSLCC. At the time, there were only five players combined with a number of players from ZHSLCC, played a one day game. They batted first and scored 212 runs in 40 over for a lost 5 wickets (highest scorer Lyod 65 runs). We were all out for 161 runs in 42 overs (Santha Athapathu scored 72 runs). The inaugural players were Sunil Perera, (Captain) Nanda Dias,(Vice Captain) Shantha Athapattu, Janaka Silva, Nimal Petikiri, Dave Mathur, Jacky de Silva, and Sanath while the ZHSLCC players were Siva, Loyd, Piyale, Sunil, Edda, Derek, Prema, Norman, Tharik, Mohamed.

Later in the same year, the Geneva Cricket Club (GCC) invited us on September 25 to play a game in Geneva Stade de Frontenex. We were bowled out for 48 runs while chasing 206 runs. This was the first match we got all eleven Sri Lankan players. The team was composed of Sunil Perera,(Captain) Prasad Kariyawasam, Shanta Athapattu, Nanda Dias (Vice Captain) , Janaka Silva, Kamal Fonseka, Nimal Petikiri, Eric Makwiatage, Rohitha Yapa, and Nimal Perera.

In 1985, out club registered with the Swiss Cricket Association in BERN. Since then the club was challenged to improve the game. We won the first match against Winterthur Cricket Club on May 12, 1985 (captain Sunil took 5 wickets in 8 overs , 3 maiden, 18 runs. While Janaka Silva 1 wickets in 5 overs, 3 mdn, 3 runs, and Suman Rathod 1 wickets in 4 overs , 1 mdn, 9 runs. The highest scorer Hiran Silva took 58 runs, Nanda Dias Vice captain 26 runs, Sarath Dayananda 21 runs not out, and Shantha Athapattu 16 runs). Score card: GESLCC 148 runs, 6 wickets in 40 overs, Winterthur all out for 59 runs, in 29 overs.

Since then the team members built their confidence and continued to develop their technical skills of the game. Also, the team members decided to enhance its overall management style and improve the team spirit.

During the latter part of 1985, we lost to CERN Cricket Club by eight wickets with our lowest score 24 runs in 24 .2 overs.

In 1986 GESLCC against Cern Cricket Club, we achieved our first century made by Prasad kariyawasam – 111 runs, (4×13)(6×2) and won the match by 70 runs.

In 1991, Against Cossonay Cricket Club, we made our highest record score of 359 runs in 40 over game played in Geneva,Bout du monde Jayantha Pathirana-(Norman) 159 runs not out, and Dugal janz 75 runs, Palitha Kohona 53runs, and Stanley Welikela 35, runs, Sarath Dayananda 18 runs not out, and Ranjith Katukurunda 14 runs – GESLCC won the match by 294 runs). Since then, the GESLCC became one of the most popular cricket team in the Geneva region and in Switzerland. The club has organized cricket tours and travel to Sri Lanka, Porto, Milano/Lodi, Prague, Berlin/Freiburg, Luxembourg on a number of occasions.

Thus far, the Geneva Cricket club has given opportunities to more than 200 players to practice this prestigious game in Switzerland. Our club has supported some players to form new teams in different regions in Switzerland and had introduced talented school cricketers to the Swiss Cricket while the Club has promoted them as captains of the GESLCC at various time.

The GESLCC had participated in many Swiss League competitions organize by various Cricket Association in Switzerland.

GESLCC also organized annual gatherings, dinner dances, and prize giving ceremonies, and weekend summer outings. We have a cordial and friendly relationships with all other clubs in Geneva Region and other cantons. On a friendly basis, our club shares the ground facilities with GCC and GICC, offered by the Service de Sports Ville de Geneva. The GESLCC which is fully recognized by the Service de Sports, Ville de Geneva is proud to announce that the club has won the Swiss Championship, three times and the Annual Sri Lanka Ambassador Challenge trophy by Jayantha Dhanapala, four times.