Sri Lanka front runners to host two ICC events

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

CRICKET: Sri Lanka is being targeted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the country to host their first-ever Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 and the Champions trophy in 2008.

This heartening news comes in the wake of Sri Lanka successfully hosting the ICC under 19 World Cup last month.

Sri Lanka cricket sources said that the ICC has unofficially indicated to them that they are keen to offer Sri Lanka the opportunity to host two of its tournaments on the grounds that they were quite happy with the organizational structure, the free tax concessions, ground and media facilities, and the infrastructure after the 2004 tsunami (which killed more than 40,000 people and rendered million homeless) during the recent under 19 World Cup.

Bangladesh and South Africa are also vying to host the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup, while Australia-New Zealand and South Africa are the other countries in the running for the 2008 Champions trophy.

ICC president Ehsan Mani hinted at the prospect of Sri Lanka becoming a venue for future ICC events at the closing dinner of the ICC under 19 World Cup in Colombo last month.

In his speech Mani said: "The people of Sri Lanka can be proud of what we have witnessed over the past two weeks. This tournament has shown so many things that are good about this country - most notably warmth of friendship, a generosity of spirit and a passion for cricket. It is these factors, among others that contributed to the ICC's decision to hold this tournament in Sri Lanka."

"I am delighted that this tournament like the ones before it has been an outstanding success," he said. Sri Lanka has in the past six years hosted two other ICC events, the under 19 World Cup in 2000 and the Champions trophy in 2002.

Sri Lanka is also in the running to be co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup with Bangladesh and UAE.

Meanwhile SLC interim committee chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa is due to leave for Dubai on March 17 to attend the ICC Executives meeting which will be held from March 16-21. SLC CEO Duleep Mendis is also expected to attend the meeting.