Cricket boss D.S. de Silva bowls as the new World cup venue Pallekelle ground is commissioned. |
The Lankans who ended up as the runners-up at the last competition in the West Indies in 2007 but, who at present are in search for their final ODI combination will begin their World Cup schedule with a warm up match against the Netherlands at the newly commissioned Pallekelle Stadium on February 12.
All 14 competing teams will play two practice games each with warm-up matches to be played from Feb 12 to 18. Bangalore, Chennai, Chittagong, Colombo, Dhaka, Nagpur and Pallekele are the cities selected for these matches.
Defending champions Australia are scheduled to face India and South Africa in their two warm-up matches in Bangalore, while Sri Lanka; the runners-up meet the Netherlands in Pallekele and the West Indies in Colombo on February 15th.
The World Twenty20 champions England’s other fixture is a day match against Canada in Dhaka, while Bangladesh’s opening match against Canada is a day/night affair in Dhaka.
Besides the Lankans playing the Netherlands and the West Indies, the only other World Cup warm up in Sri Lanka will be the match between the West Indies and Kenya.
The World Cup proper starts from Feb 19 with Bangladesh taking on co-hosts India in a day/night clash in Dhaka. The final of the mega event will be played on April 2 at the refurbished Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. |
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