Dambulla loses D/N ODI due to neglect

Dambulla loses D/N ODI due to neglect

The Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium which was to host the first two of the five match ODI series against India next week will host a single match due to the existing technical issues with floodlights, sources close to Sri Lanka Cricket said.
The venue which was built within a record 167 days has largely been overlooked over the years by the cricket administrations and sources said at least 12 lights need to be replaced if Sri Lanka wants to have day-night matches at the picturesque venue.
The venue was built in 2000 to provide Sri Lanka a chance to host one-day matches throughout the year as it is located in the central dry zone.
The Sri Lanka cricket authorities erected permanent floodlights at the venue in 2003 in time for the England tour of Sri Lanka with an estimated cost of US$ 250,000 with a view to increase the value of television rights.
Sources said that if the pervious SLC regimes had paid more attention to the venue, Dambulla would have hosted at least two day night matches during the Indian tour which would have not only given SLC a hefty financial benefit but benefited the people around the area.
“It has been neglected continuously and we are now paying the price for it,” an official who wished to remain anonymous said.
“We need to spend another three to four lakhs to replace those bulbs. If we did that the SLC would get an increased sum for television rights,” he added.
Dambulla, which was due to hold the first two matches of the five-match one-day series, will now host only the opening game on January 28.
The remaining four matches and a Twenty20 international will be played in Colombo during the brief tour, which ends on February 10.
The first and fifth one-dayers will be day games, while the other matches will be played under lights.

The revised schedule:******************************

* January 28 (Wed): First ODI (Dambulla)
*January 31 (Sat): Second ODI (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, day/ night)
* February 3 (Tue): Third ODI (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, d/ n).
* February 5 (Thu): Fourth ODI (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, d/ n)
* February 8 (Sun): Fifth ODI (Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo).
* February 10 (Tue): Twenty20 international (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, d/n).