| Sports |
|
International Cricket at Pallekelle in one year |
| By S.R. Pathiravithana |
 |
| Nishantha Ranatunge |
Since the loss of Kandy’s perennial cricketing venue, the Asgiriya Stadium, the most popular game in the country has been confined to Dambulla and Colombo.
But there is good news for upcountry cricket fans. Within the next six months top level cricket in Kandy will become a reality with the commissioning of the Pallekelle Stadium.
Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Nishantha Ranatunge told The Sunday Times that work on the ground was almost complete. “We only have to build two dressing rooms to get local cricket going at the facility”.
The Pallekelle Stadium was first launched by a private organisation and Sri Lanka’s ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan early in this decade, but subsequently work was abandoned. Then in 2007 the then SLC Interim Committee, under Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa, took the facility under its wing and work in earnest got under way.
When asked how soon an international game would be played at the venue, Ranatunga said, “It would take at least another year to get the facility up to the required international standards. By then the wicket also would be in good shape as there would have been about six months of local cricket played there”.
The SLC secretary also spoke about two of the 2011 World Cup venues – The Premadasa Stadium and the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. He said proposals had been called for the improvement of the lighting systems at both venues and some ground improvements at the Premadasa Stadium.
He also explained about the proposed stadium at Hambantota. He said “The Hambantota Stadium was espoused by a previous Interim Committee and we are continuing to extend the same support. The SLC will support that venue with all cricket facilities at the required time.”
Meanwhile when we contacted Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge regarding the new cricket selection committee he said “I only arrived in the island this morning and I intend announcing the new committee tomorrow or the day after” The term of the last selection committee which comprised Asantha de Mel (Chairman), Jayantha Seneviratne, Don Anurasiri and Ranjith Madurasinghe expired on April 30.
However the same list of names along with the addition of former Sri Lanka skipper Anura Tennekone, Uvaisul Karnain, Vinothan John, Jerry Woutersz, Chaminda Mendis and Premasara Epasinghe was sent to the minister for short listing. |
|
| |
 |
| |
 E-mail |
| |
views[1] |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
