A. C. M. Lafir

Abdul Cader Mohamed Lafir (27 October 1935 – 18 May 2022) was an opening batsman who played for Ceylon from 1953 to 1970 before Test status was awarded to the country in 1981.

Early life Abdul Cader Mohamed Lafir was born on 27 October 1935 at Katugastota near Kandy. In 1948, he entered St. Anthony's College, Kandy, and captained the First XI in the college's centenary year in 1954.

In 1962 Lafir married Carmini (née Ratnam), an English graduate and teacher. They had three children, Aashiq, Nirala and Mehera.

Cricket

Schools cricket Lafir holds the Sri Lanka record for an opening stand of 266 runs, scoring 176 runs by himself as the school team captain, with Ronnie Stevens scoring 120 runs, in the 1954 annual match against Trinity College, Kandy. He won four awards – best batsman, best bowler, best all-rounder and highest scorer. Lafir's school cricket batting average was 108.06, breaking the record of 92.6 set in 1918 by Jack Anderson; scoring five centuries and amassing 1,000 runs in a season. He scored the 'fastest 100' in 60 minutes against Ananda College Colombo, in 1954. He led St. Anthony's in 1954 to become the unbeaten Inter-school Champions and won the Sri Lanka schools Best Batsman Award. He skippered the Kandy schools XI and led them to victory over the Colombo schools XI with a captain's knock of 151 not out. He was the first schoolboy from St. Anthony's College to play for Ceylon.

In 1960 the Pakistan Eaglets visited Colombo and played a three-day match against the CCA led by C. I. Gunasekera which included Lafir and in the following year he played against India and scored 55. He also toured Malaya and Singapore in 1957. In his last first-class match in 1961-62 he top-scored for Ceylon with 84 against the MCC led by Ted Dexter.

Mercantile cricket Lafir later played for Saracens Sports Club and Nomads Sports Club. His Mercantile record score of 236 was against Rowlands. Lafir was the first batsman to win the Macan Markar Trophy awarded for the highest score of 256 not out, playing for Nomads vs University in 1966. He beat the previous best of 236 by Makin Salih.

Death He died on 18 May 2022 at the age of 86. His funeral was held on 19 May 2022.