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MOMS to guide SLC
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has indirectly contracted with a Dubai based sports management and marketing company to source a title sponsor and to sell 'ground advertising and sponsorship rights' for next months triangular cricket tournament.

According to SLC sources Taj Television who have acquired the television rights of SLC have also been entrusted with the rights of sourcing the title sponsors and other sponsors for all test series and one dayers played in Sri Lanka. For this purpose Taj Television has contracted with another Dubai based company Madison Outdoor Media Services (MOMS) FZ LLC. A sports management and marketing company based at the Dubai media center, Madisons are also involved in a similar manner with the Indian Cricket Board. Currently Madisons are sourcing for sponsors for the Sri Lanka, West Indies, India triangular and for India's two tests and seven one dayers against Zimbabwe. Madisons who have obtained the contract for all kinds of Ground Advertising and Sponsorship Rights of Sri Lankan Cricket for the next four years expects to generate over US dollars 500,000 from sponsors in the triangular tournament.

Murali to attend charity dinners
Sri Lanka's champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who is currently playing for Lancashire is scheduled to participate in two charity dinners next week. The two events will raise funds for the Muralitharan-Vaas -Goonasekera foundation, a charitable organization which is involved today in helping victims of the tsunami. Murali will be joined by his manager Kushil Gunasekera for the two charity dinners which will be held at Shenley and Jersey islands.

Muralitharan who is enjoying reasonable success for his county skipped the last four-day game against Yorkshire due to a hamstring injury. However family sources revealed to the Sunday Times that his latest injury was not of concern to the bowler and he is expected to play in the next game, which incidentally will be the fund raiser between an Asian eleven and the Rest of the world at Lords on Tuesday.Murali along with fellow Sri Lankans Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara are expected to represent the Asian eleven in the fund raiser for tsunami victims. The worlds second highest wicket taker has not played a test for the last ten months following shoulder injury. He is expected to make a comeback in next month's two test matches against the West Indies which will be followed by a triangular tournament which will feature India as the third team.

Under 23 seedings
Tournament Committee sources of Sri Lanka Cricket have confirmed to the Sunday Times that the seedings for the Under 23 tournament has been carried out according to existing rules and regulations. Allegations are currently being levelled by certain clubs that seedings of teams have been done in a biased manner. However a TC official reacting to such allegations said, "The rules clearly state that seeding of teams by the TC is based on the previous years performance and/or on a draw. What we have done this year is seed the four teams that came into last years semi finals".

On a request made by clubs the TC has agreed to postpone the commencement of the Under 23 tournament by two weeks. The postponement was requested due to the ongoing G C E (advanced Level) examination.

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