A cool eight and a half billion smackers for SLC

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will stage one of the semi-finals and earn a staggering eight and a half billion when they co-host the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011. The 10th edition of the games greatest showpiece will be co-hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with Sri Lanka and Pakistan hosting the semi-finals and India staging the finals.

In addition to the semi-final Sri Lanka will also host eight preliminary round games in four venues. The R Premadasa, Stadium, Singhalese Sports Club grounds, Galle International Stadium and the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium will have the honour of staging the world cup games. As a preparation for the world cup SLC is planning to have floodlights at the SSC grounds and the Galle Stadium. The other two venues Premadasa Stadium and the Dambulla stadium are already equipped with floodlights

Speaking to The Sunday Times Secretary of SLC K Mathivanan said,”SLC expects a net revenue of US $ 80 million for co-hosting the 2011 world cup”. Mathivanan along with Chief Executive of SLC Duleep Mendis will be in New Delhi next week to attend a meeting of the hosts of the 2011 world cup

Tri Series Re-scheduled
Meanwhile SLC is expecting to re-schedule the postponed tri-nation series involving South Africa and India in May next year. According to the SLC secretary India is having a tight schedule during that time of the year with the involvement of the Afro-Asian series and their tour to England. However South Africa, who pulled out of the tournament due to security reasons earlier this year are in a position to participate in the triangular tournament in May. “India is having 17 days between these tours and we are looking to have the triangular tournament during that period. If India declines to play the triangular tournament due to the tight schedule, they will instead agree to play four one day games”, said Mathivanan who expects to arrive at a final decision when he meets officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) next week.

When asked about the financial implications of the tournament the secretary replied saying, “Four one dayers against India will give us around US $ 8 millio, as against US $ 10 to 11 million for a triangular tournament that will feature India and South Africa”.
Cricket Stadium for Hambantota

The Sunday Times learns from reliable sources that a cricket stadium is expected to come up in Hambantota shortly. It is believed that a land of approximately 12 Acres have been given by the State to SLC for this purpose. Hambantota is situated 238 kilometers south of the capital Colombo and is a district that is in the arid zone of the island where annual rainfall is at a minimum.

Last month SLC acquired the leasing rights of the Premadasa Stadium for thirty years from the current owners Sugathadasa Sports Stadium Authority. According to SLC sources a new trust is also to be appointed in respect of the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. President Mahinda Rajapakse, Chairman of the Interim Committee Jayantha Dharmadasa and the Chief Priest of the Rangiri Dambulla Vihara Inamaluwe Sumangala Thero will the new trustees.