Close the Uyanwatta cricket ground to the public - ICC Pitch Consultant

Priyan DE SILVA -Matara Sports Corespondent

ICC’s pitch consultant Andy Atkinson insisted that the Uyanwatta ground should be closed to the public from at least August 22 or earlier to enable ground staff to prepare and maintain the outfield to

the required standards. Uyanwatta Stadium Matara is the venue for practice matches and practices for the teams taking part in the womens T20 wold cup 2012. He emphasized that the women’s tournament is as important as the men’s and that the same standard of facilities and grounds should be provided for both tournaments. The seven new center pitches and six side pitches laid at the Uyanwatta Stadium were to his satisfaction. A team comprising Andy Atkinson pitch consultant to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Clive Hitchcock who is in charge of Cricket Operations and Michela Rees Liason officer for the womens T20 world cup visited Uyanwatta on Wednesday (18th ).

They were in Sri Lanka to inspect the venues for the T20 world cup which will commence on September 18. Anuruddha Polonnowita Chief Curator for Sri Lanka Cricket accompanied them. The Nawaloka Pavilion which was damaged by the cyclonic winds that struck Matara on November 25, 2011 has not been attended to as yet and is in a state of total neglect. Mitchaela Rees and Clive Hitchcock who inspected the building with much attention being paid to the dressing rooms and toilet facilities insisted that the renovations be carried out immediately.

It is sad that the first floor where the dressing rooms are situated had not even been swept and cleared of litter prior to the inspection. It should be noted that officials of the ICC are attentive to every minute detail. The short comings were recorded, photographed and videoed. Nawaloka Group Managing Director and SLC Chairman Upali Dharmadasa agreed to renovate and maintain the Nawaloka pavilion which was gifted to the MDCA by his father late H K Dharmadasa.

This promise was made on the 21st of January 2012 and is yet to be fulfilled. Dharmadasa is the Chairman of SLC too. If the Uyanwtta grounds and facilities do not comply with the standards expected to the ICC an alternative venue would have to be selected. And if there is no alternative venue the womens T 20 world cup matches would also have to be shifted to another venue.

It is the vision of Minister for Youth Affairs and Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma, Member of Parliament Santh Jayasuriya, Mayor of Matara Sosindra Handunge and the Matara District Cricket Association to upgrade the Uyanwatta Stadium to international level.