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It was 20 years ago so, understandably, memories of the Commonwealth Games are a little hazy for Suresh Perera. Although he has not forgotten his debut match in cricket's sole dip into the world's third-largest multi-sports event - behind only the Olympics and Asian Games.
Perera, the then 20-year-old, had come into the event jaded after a tour of the UK, where he had made a successful Test debut at the Oval in Sri Lanka's famous 10-wicket victory. The all-rounder was a rising star and the 1998 Commonwealth Games was another golden opportunity to showcase his precocious skillset.
However, Kuala Lumpur's renowned stifling humidity proved too much for Perera, who had become used to the UK's moderate summer climate. In Sri Lanka's first match against Malaysia, Perera felt dizzy in the field before fainting.
"It was so humid, I had never experienced anything like it," Perera recalls to Cricbuzz. "The humidity was far worse than I had ever experienced in Sri Lanka and I just couldn't take it."
Despite feeling ill, Perera starred in Sri Lanka's expected thrashing of the hosts with three wickets and a cameo with the bat. Fortunately, after an eventful start, Perera thoroughly enjoyed himself on-and-off the field for the remainder of the event.
He starred throughout and top-scored for Sri Lanka in the Bronze medal match only for his team to fall short against New Zealand. Of course, major multi-sports events are about much more than the on-field action and Perera recalls several cherished memories he treasures from the overall experience.
"I will never forget walking out with the other Sri Lankan athletes during the opening ceremony," he says. "That is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it just makes you really proud to represent your country. The other aspect that made the Commonwealth Games special - and what I imagine the Olympics to be like - is mingling with other athletes in the village and watching other sports.
"A highlight was meeting (New Zealand rugby superstar) Jonah Lomu," he added. "He was one of the biggest sports stars at the time and just a huge bloke, so it was incredible to meet sports royalty."
The memories have come flooding back for Perera, who played three Tests and 20 ODIs between 1998 and 2001, with the Commonwealth Games currently ongoing in the Gold Coast. It is the largest sports event staged in Australia this decade with 6600 athletes and team officials from 71 Commonwealth nations.
Of course, cricket is not part of the Gold Coast spectacle despite being arguably the most popular sport across the Commonwealth and having an ideal showpiece in Twenty20 to use for such an event. For cricket, such a Commonwealth-centric sport, not to be part of the event is undeniably peculiar.
There has been somewhat of a renewed push in recent years for cricket to be reinstalled in the Commonwealth Games with the event seen as a stepping stone for eventual inclusion into the Olympics, which ICC chief executive Dave Richardson has expressed support for.
Cricket's invisibility from major multi-sports events is underlined when contrasted with rugby, which has benefited from its abbreviated format - rugby sevens - being an Olympic sport after initially debuting at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Basketball, not overly popular in Commonwealth countries bar a few exceptions, was included in Gold Coast after just one appearance previously.
Women's cricket was set to feature at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 before hosts Durban were stripped and replaced by Birmingham. There are currently no plans for cricket to be played at the next Commonwealth Games, according to Birmingham's organisers. But local politicians have triumphed cricket's inclusion - even a potential mixed-gender format - fuelling some hope.
The sticking point continues to revolve around cricket's increasingly congested calendar dotted by the plethora of Twenty20 leagues worldwide. Right now, of course, the Indian Premier League has started meaning the talent would be relatively barren if there was a men's cricket event at the concurrent Commonwealth Games.
South Africa won the Gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth games © Getty
These same issues were evident 20 years when England refused to send a team to Malaysia due to it clashing with the County season, while India boasted a weakened team albeit one headlined by Sachin Tendulkar. But other teams, notably Australia directed by an enthusiastic Steve Waugh, sent a strong line-up that eventually lost the Gold medal match to South Africa.
Perhaps above else, the BCCI has reportedly been against cricket's inclusion at multi-sports events making the obstacle far greater. Undeniably, cricket at these showpiece global events - particularly the Olympics - would give the sport a worldwide reach and enhance the prospect of growing it beyond traditional boundaries.
However, for now, it appears a longshot that cricket will be part of any multi-sports events in the foreseeable future and it was axed from this year's Asian Games after inclusion four years ago in Incheon.
For now, cricket has had just the sole flirtation with the Commonwealth Games in a great shame for those who memorably experienced Kuala Lumpur 20 years ago. "The Commonwealth Games is definitely a highlight, something that will always be special for me," says Perera, who still plays club cricket in Perth, Western Australia. "Twenty20 cricket is the perfect format for the event and I think cricketers - and the fans - are missing something memorable with cricket not being part of the Commonwealth Games.
"Even if some of the best players don't play, I still think it would be great for younger players and countries from outside Test-playing nations to have this type of platform," he adds. "More exposure on the world stage can only be a good thing for cricket."
(CRICBUZZ)
