| Sri
Lanka to host Asia Cup Cricket Tournament in June this year
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has successfully negotiated with her Asian
neighbours to host the Asia Cup in Colombo in June this year. According
to SLC Secretary Mohan de Silva the quadrangular tournament between
Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will be held prior to
Sri Lanka's departure to Australia for two tests in July.
The
limited over tournament was last held in May 2000 in Bangladesh
where Pakistan won the Asia cup for the first time beating Sri Lanka
by 39 runs in the final. Discussions for Sri Lanka to host the Asia
cup took place during the recent A team triangular tournament in
Calcutta.Sri Lanka Cricket were represented by President Thilanga
Sumathipala and Secretary Mohan de Silva. Sri Lanka Cricket is also
negotiating with officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India(BCCI) to include tours by India to Sri Lanka for the next
three years.
Sharjah
tour off
Meanwhile Sri Lanka's scheduled tour to Sharjah in April will not
take place as the organizes the Cricketer's Benefit Fund Series
(CBFS) are unable to get three teams during that period. With India
touring Pakistan in March -April next year CBFS is unable to stage
the tournament during April. Efforts to stage the tournament prior
to the Indo- Pakistan tournament has also not been successful as
Sri Lanka are hosting Australia in mid February for six weeks and
also have their own Inter Provincial tournament in January and February.
SLC
to finalise TV rights
Sri Lanka Cricket is also poised to finalize the Television
Broadcasting Contract for three years in a few days time. Following
the closure of bids two weeks ago SLC has sent the bids to their
Auditors for evaluation. Officials of SLC confirmed receiving four
bids from the five interested parties but were not very happy about
the values offered. The fact that India is not scheduled to tour
Sri Lanka for the next three years has effected the value of the
three year Television Contract.It is in this context that officials
of SLC are trying desperately to negotiate with the BCCI to get
India to play in Sri Lanka during the next three years.
Captain
to be named
Selection Committee Chairman Lalith Kaluperuma confirmed to the
Sunday Times that the Captain and the Squads for the Australian
tests and one dayers will be selected on the 20 th of January. The
absence of Coach John Dyson and the ongoing inter-provincial tournament
are two factors that may have delayed the selection. Although there
has been much speculation of the selection of the Captain it will
be interesting to see whether the National Selectors will reatain
Hashan Tilakaratne or name Marvan Atapattu as the test and one day
captain. |
