Kumar Sangakkara: 
The legendary Sri Lankan wicketkeeper captain is one of the greatest ever batsmen in Test cricket. The Marylebone Cricket Club invited him twice to give the MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture. In 2011, he received an invitation for the first time and in 2015 for the second time. He was the youngest ever cricketer to deliver a lecture. He focused on the rise of Sri Lanka cricket. He said, “People that I’ve known for 30 years -friends, family, everyone is here and to see that they love me is great and it will be my greatest achievement.”
Sangakkara also emphasised on cricketer’s role in building the modern and complex society of Sri Lanka, “the emergence of cricket and the new role of cricket within Sri Lankan society also meant that cricketers had bigger responsibilities than merely playing on the field. We needed to live positive lifestyles off the field and we need to also give back. The same people that applaud us every game need us to contribute back positively to their lives. We needed to inspire not just on the field but also off it.”
