Sri Lanka best WC host
Chris Dhambarage
The International Cricket Council has rated Sri Lanka as the best out
of the three host nations that conducted the ICC Cricket World Cup in
the sub continent in March/April this year. Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary
Nishantha Ranatunga said that the ICC have named Sri Lanka as the best
host nation following a successful World Cup where a total of twelve
matches including one quarterfinal and a semifinal was also worked off
in the island.
Bangladesh and India which hosted the final in Mumbai were the other
two host countries of the ICC 2011 World Cup. Ranatunga stated that the
ICC will officially declare Sri Lanka as the best World Cup host nation
during their annual general meeting next month.
These World Cup matches were worked off at three newly constructed
stadiums namely R. Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama, Pallekele Stadium in
Kandy and at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambanthota.
High Performance Centre
Ranatunga also added that a High Performance Centre will be set up at
the R. Premadasa Stadium in Khettarama after the Twenty20 World Cup
which will be hosted by Sri Lanka next year. “We have done the initial
plans and the Head of coaching Jerome Jayaratne is working on it with
Director Cricket Operations Ashely de Silva. Our next step after the T20
World Cup is to try and have the indoor facilities along with other
training facilities for the national players”.
Sri Lanka Premier League
Ranatunga also elaborated on the non participation of the Indian
players from the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League 2011 which will be
worked off in Colombo from July 19 to August 4.
“We have got a letter from them and the reason they have told us is
that since the players agreements have been signed with our marketing
arm they are not in a position to accept it”.
As many as 12 Indian players including fast bowlers Praveen Kumar and
Munaf Patel had sought permission to play in this tournament but they
have been denied as the Indian Board’s policy does not allow players to
participate in private tournaments.
Missing Hard Discs
Meanwhile acting Chairman Sri Lanka Cricket Eshana de Silva stated
that the incident regarding to the two missing hard discs from the World
Cup office will be resolved soon as they have the backups with them
“An audit is in place for some time and the Interim Committee has
been requesting for the audit to happen quickly. So these two discs went
missing. But I reliably understand from the acting CEO that we have the
backups for these discs. Whoever took them they might as well as enjoy
because we have the backups.” |