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25th November 2001

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Sri Lankan bowler Chamnida Vaas (L) celebrates after trappingWest Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan (R) leg before wicket during the fourth day of the second cricket test between Sri Lanka and West Indies at the Asgiriya stadium in Kandy REUTERS
Contents

Big boost for Indoor Cricket 

By M.Shamil Amit
The Ceylon Indoor Cricket Association (CICA) which was formed only six months ago in May 12, 2001 have made vast strides. It has successfuly conducted domestic tournaments and an international tournament which they conducted recently at the Austasia Sports Complex in Talawathugoda. Before these tournaments they went on a tour to Australia where the team only lost one match. In short within the first six months of existence they have organized three national tournaments visited Australia and organized an International tournament against India which was played for the Pepsi Trophy and also winning it. 

Speaking to The Sunday Times after a press briefing held at the Galadari Hotel recently to hand over the sponsorship package Dakshitha Anthony the Managing Director of the Austasia Sports Complex said that there are over 1300 indoor cricket players in Sri Lanka and is becoming very popular.

The CICA is now a fully fledged member of the world body of indoor cricket along with four others which are Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa and India is yet an affiliated member. Dakshitha further said that at the recently held meeting of the world body in mid October that was held in Perth, Australia the CICA was unanimously awarded to conduct the 5th World Cup in Sri Lanka. 

It was a big boost for the CICA as they had to compete with England and eventually succeeded. The beauty of this prestigious event is that both the men's and women's tournaments are conducted concurrently. This is the first time Sri Lanka is going to have a full World Cup event here as a sport. Also the first Indoor World Cup to be held in the Asian region. All together nine countries are billed to participate with more than 700 players and officials involved. It also coincides with the10th year of the World Cup. So far three World Cups have been played. The first in 1996 in England,1998 in Australia and in the year 2000 in South Africa. The fourth World Cup is due to be played next year in New Zealand. 

After the CICA got the world cup confirmation all indoor cricket playing nations are keenly waiting to tour Sri Lanka. Australia and New Zealand will be visiting Sri Lanka in January 2002 for a tri nation tournament. The CICA have also planned more domestic and international tournaments within the next few years. In 2002 they hope to tour India and in June the same year arrangements are being made to play a series between Sri Lanka and South Africa juniors. In the year 2003 they are planning to organise an Asian indoor cricket tournament among Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand. These are few of the planned tournaments before the World Cup in 2004 which will be played from August 14 to August 22.

All facilities are available at the Austasia Sports Complex. It has provisions for live TV coverage, medical centre, health club, changing rooms, restaurant bar, food court, conference hall, media facilities, technical facilities and sports facilities for all indoor games and many more that is required to conduct an international tournament. Before the world cup tournament the CICA are planning to construct two more indoor cricket stadiums in Kandy and Kurunegala.

Dakshitha concluded by saying all success have been due to the assistance given by their main sponsors Jet Asia spearheaded by Dhammika Gunaratne. 

Jet Asia will also be the official Travel Agents for the world cup. Another tower of strength is Sri Lanka's wicket keeper Romesh Kaluwi-tharana who is the Director Technical of the Austasia Indoor Complex. along with the other officials of the CICA. And in time to come indoor cricket will be a major sport in Sri Lanka. 


Royal in the forefront

The Fifth Annual Royal College Awards Ceremony will be held at the Navarangahala on November 29 at 6.30 p.m.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Royal Sports Complex in Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha. The Principal H.L.B.Gomes stressed that Royal have been in the forefront in both the academic and sports activities in Sri Lanka. Royal which was established in 1835 under the name of Colombo Academy has become one of the prestigious schools in the island. The enthusiam and determination shown by the students in Royal College in sports in the past few years have brought honour to the school. Royal have produced young and talented sportmen who have represented the national team at junior and senior level. In appreciation to these dedicated Royalists all deserving and outstanding sportsmen will be honoured by being awarded the colours at the colours awarding ceremony. The principal further said that the school has 24 sports for which colours are awarded for 19 sports and this year Royal have produced 28 boys who have been members of either the junior or senior national team in various sports. 

Ajith Peiris the Secretary of the Old Boys Union said that the present principal has taken great pains to upgrade all sports activities at the school and has been a tower of strength to the boys. He also said that the old boys of the school together with the present boys was instrumental in putting up a sports complex for the school which cost Rs. 70 million and it was completed in just two years. The boys are very fortunate to have these facilities and have reaped the benefit by producing outstanding sportsmen in all sports.

The feature of the award ceremony is that the organising and all work involved are being done by the students of the school. There will also be a musical show which will be provided by the students of the school.- MSA



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