Sri Lanka cricket will awaiting the official International Certification to their two new venues in Pallekelle and Hambantota with the visit of the ICC representative Clive Lloyd.
Explaining Lloyd’s visit to the country Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said “This is a customary requirement of the ICC where they send one of the match referees for an inspection before they embark on true international cricket and Clive Lloyd is in town for that purpose.
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| A match in progress at newly constructed Pallakelle stadium. Pic by Ranjith Perera |
“He will be visiting the Pallekelle and the Hambantota Stadiums, but not the R. Premadasa Stadium which already has got its international certification.
“This tour of Lloyd has nothing to do with the forthcoming World Cup and the deadline for it stands at mid-December this year and we are very confident we could meet the deadline by then and have the grounds in perfect shape”.
Ranatunge added however that the second Test against the West Indies which is scheduled for the R. Premadasa Stadium, may not be played under ideal conditions as the facility is still under construction and added “However the playing area is perfect and we are hoping to have ideal playing conditions.
There is going to be an added advantage to the our guys during this series as all three grounds would be utilised initially for this tour and the Lankan cricketers who will be playing most of their qualifying round games in the World Cup will be in action at these three venues.
The much awaited DRS system also will be in place for this series. Ranatunga said “The initial cost for the system was high as 108,000US $ but with the intervention of the ICC and Ten Sports, Hawkeye Inc. who owns the system agreed to bring it down considerably. Now Ten Sports will chip in somewhat along with the ICC and Ten Sports have also agreed to give out some sponsorship benefits to any one who comes in as an partner to this scheme.
“We have already to spoken to LG, Blackberry and our Provincial Cricket Tournament Sponsor Somerset Entertainment Ventures Limited and we should know the final outcome by tomorrow”. |
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