Former March and Doddington cricketer Harry Vaheesan manages Jaffna Kings to Sri Lankan title

Former March and Doddington cricketer Harry Vaheesan managed Jaffna Kings to the 2021 Sri Lanka Premier League.

Formerly the Stallions, the Kings won the event for the second year in a row when they beat the Galle Gladiators by 23 runs in the final.

The game finished past midnight in Hambantota, and Harry’s family were able to join the players in the celebrations which continued into the next morning.

Harry’s role in his second season with the champions has widened to the director of cricket, which meant he was involved in the initial selection of the squad via the players’ draft before the tournament started in early December.

The Sri Lankan premier league featured five teams who played in a group format before the tournament switched to knock out. Jaffna topped the group with six wins from their eight matches.

The Jaffna team included several international cricketers from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan including current Pakistan T20 star Shoaib Malik.

Tom Kohler Cadmore from Yorkshire CCC also played for Jaffna. “It’s an amazing feeling to work with players of that stature,” said Harry.

As in 2020, the tournament was staged in a bubble with Harry and the players restricted to spending time in their hotels and the match venues.

“It was not as difficult as the first edition. In a way we have got used to it. It wasn’t too difficult. But there is a strain and the players wanted to get out when the tournament was over,” said Harry.

As a Tamil himself, Harry is actively involved in improving cricket facilities in Jaffna, which is situated in the north of the country. “I am in a very humble and privileged position to guide and help people in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Harry, who played for locally for Doddington and recently coached March Town in the Cambs and Hunts Premier League, plans to return to the area during the summer on holiday.

“I am grateful to the likes of March and Cambridgeshire CC where I learned my trade as a coach. Certainly, these roots have helped me,” reflected Harry.

He hopes to be involved with the Jaffna Kings later this year when they will be looking to win the Sri Lanka Premier league for the third successive year.

More detailed information of Harry’s successful season can be heard in episode 102 of ‘The Paddock and The Pavilion podcast,’ available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google, Soundcloud, Spotify and Stitcher.