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IOC comes up with handsome package for triangular
Chappell and Dravid on centre stage
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Indian Oil Company have come forward with a handsome sponsorship package of around US $ 100,000 which is believed to be one of the biggest sponsorships in recent times for this week’s triangular cricket tournament which commences on Saturday.

Taj Television which has secured the Television and Broadcasting rights of Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC) for the next three years has negotiated and secured the deal on behalf of SLC. The official announcement of the sponsorship was made in Bombay, India recently, in the presence of top officials of Indian Oil Company and Taj Television,. SLC was also represented at the simple ceremony.

The triangular will be officially known as the ‘IOC Cup 2005’ and will be played between hosts Sri Lanka, The West Indies and India. Sri Lanka takes on India in the opening game on Saturday at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium while West Indies play India on Sunday at the same venue. Each team will play each other twice after which the top two teams meet in the finals on the 9th of August at the R Premadasa Stadium with the 10th of August reserved as an additional day in the event rain interrupts the game on the first day. All matches are day-night games.

In addition to the Prize money that is on offer for each game the Man of the Series of the Triangular tournament will win a brand new Suzuki car.
Meanwhile the Indian cricket team which is being led by Rahul Dravid for the first time arrived in the island last afternoon. Regular skipper Saurav Ganguly is also in the squad along with their new coach Greg Chappell who is also on his maiden tour as the coach of India.

In preparation for the triangular tournament India will play a practice game at the NCC grounds tomorrow. A large contingent of Journalists numbering over 50 is also expected to arrive within the next few days to cover the Triangular tournament. Sri Lanka’s selectors were expected to meet last night in Kandy to select the 14-member squad for the tournament.

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