2011 Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony in Bangladesh - Watch Live Videos

2011 Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony in Bangladesh

Cricket is a great sport and the Cricket World Cup is the highlight of every cricket lover’s year. This time the event, which is held every four years, will be even more memorable for cricket lovers living in Bangladesh.

On February 18, 2009, Haroon Lorgat, the Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council, announced that the opening ceremony of the 2011 Cricket World Cup will be held in Bangladesh. The event will take place almost exactly two years from now on February 19, 2011, and proceedings will coincide with the opening game which will also take place in Bangladesh on the same day. That is exciting news for both cricket lovers in Bangladesh and the people of the country in general as the move will no doubt generate a lot of tourism and cast a spotlight on the country, hopefully helping to further improve its image and economy.

Haroon Lorgat also said that the number of matches to be played at the fifteen different selected venues had been discussed. It is obvious that the event should be used to bolster local tourism efforts and every endeavor must be made to ensure that it is a massive success. If you would like to combine sport with leisure, you’ll be happy to know that the World Cup will be making its way to either Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Narayanganj Osmani Stadium in Fatullah or the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The final decision as to which stadium will be used for the event is yet to be made.

No doubt, this means that Bandladesh will experience a lot of tourist-related development as city officials try to ensure that it is completely ready to receive this prestigious event and the many tourists that travel with it. Though it is still some time before the 2011 Cricket World Cup takes place, fans would definitely do well to book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Visitors from other countries would also do well to take advantage of their trip and explore the country between matches so that they can learn a little bit more about the rich beauty that is to be found in Bangladesh.

http://www.bangladesh.com/blog/2011-cricket-world-cup-opening-ceremony-in-bangladesh

Murali to be Australia spin coach

Murali to be Australia spin coach

Muttiah Muralidaran - once an outcast spurned by Australian cricket fans - will sign on as a guest spin coach to help mould the country's next generation of young spinners into champions.

In a stunning coup for Australian cricket, Sri Lanka's controversial spin genius will spend several weeks at the Brisbane-based Centre of Excellence in June for intensive training with rising Australian spinners, according to a report in the Australian newspaper Daily Telegraph.

Test cricket's greatest wicket-taker will not only impart the secrets of his spin wizardry but also record a spin coaching tutorial so his extraordinary knowhow will be passed on to future generations of Australian spinners.

It is a sign of how far the wheel has turned that Murali - who has been repeatedly heckled, taunted and even had fruit thrown at him by unruly fans here since being no-balled by Darrell Hair in the 1995 Boxing Day Test - will become Australia's potential spin saviour. Australian great Greg Chappell, one-time Indian coach and Australia's only full-time selector, masterminded Murali's visit by using his extensive network of contacts in the subcontinent.

"This is a wonderful opportunity ... Murali has probably forgotten more about spin bowling than most people will ever know in a lifetime," Chappell told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

"Murali is one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, we are very, very lucky.

"It is not just Murali's obvious physical skill that will be a huge benefit for our young spinners.

"It is also his mental toughness, his cleverness, his cunning and his ability to be able to set a batsman up and bowl 10-15 overs to a plan."

The Murali news is a shot in the arm for Australian cricket at a time when it conducts a major review into a devastating Ashes loss and tries to plot a fresh course into the future.

The nation's depleted spin stocks are one of the most pressing issues with 10 frontline spinners deployed at Test level since Shane Warne walked off into the sunset at the end of the 2006-07 home Ashes series.

Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer were both plucked from obscurity to wear baggy green caps this summer after Nathan Hauritz was sacked before the first Ashes Test.

Australian spinners have long struggled to unlock the secrets of the doosra and Murali was the man who made this mysterious delivery his own - even though the bona fides of his action were often questioned.

Murali's visit will also be invaluable for Australia's batsmen as his action will be recorded live and downloaded on the Academy's pro-batter video machine so batsmen can face a "virtual Murali" on the video-wall machine which mimics any bowler in the world.

Warne and former Pakistani off-spinner Saqlain Mustaq both had brief guest stints at the Centre of Excellence but Murali's visit - not long after he farewells international cricket at the 50-over World Cup starting this month - is positive news that Australian cricket desperately needs.

Chappell said Murali's coaching role would be confirmed once details were finalised in the next few weeks.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/sports/cricket/9642-murali-to-be-australia-spin-coach.html

Mickelson eyes a big year with focus back to golf

http://www.island.lk

By DOUG FERGUSON

SAN DIEGO (AP) - One of the more compelling images from Torrey Pines apparently won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Phil Mickelson, in the middle of a five-week stretch of tournaments, took time off to rest Tuesday. That allowed his caddie a chance to sneak over to play golf at Whisper Rock before getting back to work at the Phoenix Open. Jim "Bones" Mackay wasn’t on the phone very long when it was time for him to play a shot, so he handed the phone off to someone in his group. That turned out to be Geoff Ogilvy, who provided details of the round. "We’re actually having Bones run up from the fairway to tend the flag for us," Ogilvy said. He was only kidding, and Mackay can expect plenty of that.

In yet another case of Mickelson’s entertainment value, he needed an eagle on the par-5 18th hole at Torrey Pines to force a playoff with Bubba Watson. The odds weren’t very good, and Mickelson knew that. But leaving nothing to chance, he had Mackay tend the flag as he stood over his third shot from 72 yards out in the fairway.

Having a caddie tend the flag for a full shot from the fairway is unusual, but not unprecedented. Then again, it was only nine months ago when Mickelson told his caddie NOT to tend the flag when he had a birdie putt on the green.

That happened in the third round at Quail Hollow last year, when Mickelson was trying to make a point about the severe greens. From 60 feet away, he felt his only chance at par was to putt well right of the cup. He ended up getting his par.

Few players are more unpredictable than Mickelson.

Yes, he is Phil the Thrill.

Phil also has a plan.

He came into this season with a pointed message that he delivered first in Abu Dhabi, then repeated last week at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he shot four rounds in the 60s and had to settle for second place.

Mickelson wants 2011 to be the kind of year he hoped 2010 would be.

He won the Masters last year, a moment made even more special when his wife, Amy, was on the 18th green for the first time since being diagnosed with breast cancer. His chief nemesis, Tiger Woods, was out of the picture with his personal life and golf game in a free fall. It appeared to be only a matter of time before Mickelson replaced him at No. 1 in the world ranking.

A dozen tournaments came and went, and the baton instead was passed to Lee Westwood.

It was only late in the season, before the PGA Championship, that Mickelson revealed he had been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. He never said just now much it held him back. Even now, he says only that he was lucky to have caught it early before it did any permanent damage to his joints, and that medication has allowed him to resume his normal work.

"We thought 2010 was going to be a phenomenal year," swing coach Butch Harmon said Tuesday. "He was in the best physical shape. Amy was on the road to recovery. And then along comes June, and the arthritic thing hit him. The mental side was the toughest. Phil hid this very well, but he thought his career could have been over with. That was playing on his mind."

Mickelson brought his entire family and Harmon to Abu Dhabi, where he tied for 37th. Harmon said they worked on his game in Abu Dhabi, and that Lefty’s short game showed plenty of rust from not having competed in two months.

Beyond the swing, they talked about course management.

"One of the things I told him at Abu Dhabi was his process of thinking wasn’t very good," Harmon said. "We not only worked on his game, but we worked on the mental side of how he plays. I told him, ‘I never want to take away your aggressiveness. I’m not trying to make you conservative. I’m trying to make you smart."’

That showed itself throughout the week at Torrey Pines, and even on the final hole.

His mistake was a tee shot that he popped up slightly and pushed to the right, although he appeared to have a decent lie, and the tees were moved up so much that Mickelson had only 228 yards left.

"We saw his ball and thought, ‘This is awesome.’ And when we got within 10 feet of it, going for the green wasn’t even an option," Mackay said. "He would have had to curve it a tremendous amount, and it had all this grass around it." The only choice was to lay up, and that’s when Mickelson sent his caddie to the green. Mackay didn’t think anything of that, either. Mickelson said a dozen or so times a year, the flag gets in the way of a wedge shot.

One of those occasions was at the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2009 on the 15th hole. A year later, Mickelson hit the pin on the same hole and watched it ricochet off the green. At least the second time, he chipped in for birdie.

Pin or no pin, he had to settle for birdie at Torrey Pines and a runner-up finish. Regardless, it was his best start to a PGA Tour season since he won the Bob Hope Classic in 2004.

Next up is the Phoenix Open, followed by Pebble Beach and Riviera. He has won each of those events at least twice.

Harmon began working with Mickelson in 2007, right before Lefty captured The Players Championship. Then came a wrist injury that summer. His wife and mother were diagnosed with breast cancer weeks apart in 2009. The arthritis arrived in 2010.

"It’s the first time in the last three years there hasn’t been any turmoil Phil’s his life," Harmon said. "We haven’t had one year where everything falls into place."

2011 Cricket World Cup Match Date Time Table >> කාල සටහන

2011 Cricket World Cup Match Date Time Table >> කාල සටහන

2011 Cricket World Cup Match Date Time Table Schedule





ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 has been announced and this time India, Srilanka and Bangladesh are the hosts with Mumbai hosting final of the world cup. World Cup 2011 is starting from 19th February to 2nd April 2011 .Taking lessons from world cup 2007 ICC has divided the teams into two groups-GROUP A and GROPU B. Each group consists of 8 teams and each team will be playing with all the teams in same group and will qualify for quarters. Group A contains Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Srilanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, and Kenya while Group B contains India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, and Netherlands. The first match will be played between India and Bangladesh at Dhaka on 19th February, 2011. Quarterfinals are scheduled from March 23 to March 26. The 4 winning teams will qualify for semifinals scheduled on 29th and 30th March, 2011 at Colombo and Mohali. Every team is working day and night to grab the prestigious trophy of world cup for its nation and to qualify for the finals which is scheduled at April 2, 2011 in Mumbai, the city of India. Public and also ICC officials are hoping that this time no scandals regarding corruption and match fixing will be seen in Cricket World Cup 2011. ICC is focusing much on the clarity and authencity of the matches and hoping that this world cup will be played between authentic teams of the world. Everyone across the world is extremely excited about the Cricket World Cup 2011 and having hopes that their team will be the winner this time. Cricket is considered as the most valued international game across the world and nobody wants to miss the Cricket World Cup 2011.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be the 10th World Cup. Prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, 9 Cricket World Cups have been organized by ICC. Australia have emerged winner on the most occasions – 4. Closely following is West Indies, who won the inaugural and the very next World Cup. All the Indian Subcontinent teams – India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have won 1 World Cup each. Australia won in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007. West Indies won on 1975 (the first World Cup) and 1979. India won the World Cup in 1983, Pakistan won the World Cup in 1992 and Sri Lanka won in 1996.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 schedule and Cricket World Cup 2011 fixtures: ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 schedule and Cricket World Cup 2011 fixtures are given below on our website.


Cricket World Cup 2011 Schedule

Match No. Date Match Venue

1 19-Feb Bangladesh vs India Dhaka
2 20-Feb New Zealand vs Kenya Chennai
3 20-Feb Sri Lanka vs Canada Hambantota
4 21-Feb Australia vs Zimbabwe Ahmedabad
5 22-Feb England vs Netherlands Nagpur
6 23-Feb Pakistan vs Kenya Hambantota
7 24-Feb South Africa vs West Indies New Delhi
8 25-Feb Australia vs New Zealand Nagpur
9 25-Feb Bangladesh vs Ireland Dhaka
10 26-Feb Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Colombo
11 27-Feb India vs England Kolkata
12 28-Feb West Indies vs Netherlands New Delhi
13 28-Feb Zimbabwe vs Canada Nagpur
14 1-Mar Sri Lanka vs Kenya Colombo
15 2-Mar England vs Ireland Bangalore
16 3-Mar South Africa vs Netherlands Mohali
17 3-Mar Pakistan vs Canada Colombo
18 4-Mar New Zealand vs Zimbabwe Ahmedabad
19 4-Mar Bangladesh vs West Indies Dhaka
20 5-Mar Sri Lanka vs Australia Colombo
21 6-Mar India vs Ireland Bangalore
22 6-Mar England vs South Africa Chennai
23 7-Mar Kenya vs Canada New Delhi
24 8-Mar Pakistan vs New Zealand Pallekele
25 9-Mar India vs Netherlands New Delhi
26 10-Mar Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Pallekele
27 11-Mar West Indies vs Ireland Mohali
28 11-Mar Bangladesh vs England Chittagong
29 12-Mar India vs South Africa Nagpur
30 13-Mar New Zealand vs Canada Mumbai
31 13-Mar Australia vs Kenya Bangalore
32 14-Mar Pakistan vs Zimbabwe Pallekele
33 14-Mar Bangladesh vs Netherlands Chittagong
34 15-Mar South Africa vs Ireland Kolkata
35 16-Mar Australia vs Canada Bangalore
36 17-Mar England vs West Indies Chennai
37 18-Mar Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Mumbai
38 18-Mar Ireland vs Netherlands Kolkata
39 19-Mar Australia vs Pakistan Colombo
40 19-Mar Bangladesh vs South Africa Dhaka
41 20-Mar Zimbabwe vs Kenya Kolkata
42 20-Mar India vs West Indies Chennai

43 23-Mar First Quarter-final Dhaka
44 24-Mar Second Quarter-final Colombo
45 25-Mar Third Quarter-final Dhaka
46 26-Mar Fourth Quarter-final Ahmedabad
47 29-Mar First Semi-final Colombo
48 30-Mar Second Semi-final Mohali
49 2-Apr Final Mumbai

Once you bookmark this page you can view ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 schedule and Cricket World Cup 2011 fixtures anytime you like.

Cricket World Cup 2011 venue: With India as the main host of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Cricket World Cup 2011 venue includes stadiums of cities like Dhaka, Mumbai, Kolkata, Mohali, Colombo, Chennai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, chittagong and Bangalore. Cricket World Cup 2011 venue also includes new venues like Pallekelle and Hambantota – both being in Sri Lanka.

Cricket World Cup 2011 teams: Cricket World Cup 2011 teams include 4 times winner Australia, 2 times winners West Indies, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, England and Kenya. Groups in which Cricket World Cup 2011 teams are divided:




Group A –
Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

Group B –
India, South Africa, England, Bangladesh, West Indies, Netherlands and Ireland.

Murali speak about all time Sri Lankan destroyers , JVP

Murali speak about all time Sri Lankan destroyers , JVP

Muttiah Muralitharan has made a confusing claim about the recent Sri Lankan political history, when he told an Australian newspaper that a lot of Sinhalese were killed when “Communist Party came”.

Murali who is currently touring Australia had made this statement during an interview with renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck. It was published in the leading Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald.

“Do you think that these troubles and growing up in a mixed community helped to give you strength of character? The Tamils had a hard time” Roebuck had asked Murali.

“The Sinhalese as well. They had hard times when the Communist party came, they were targeted and a lot of people were killed” had been Murali’s reply.

Murali has also recalled how his house and his father’s biscuit factory was burned down during violence in 1977, and has said that they have forgiven things because they are not “politicians”.

“Our factory and our house were burnt down in 1977 and that was painful for a time. We were saved by Sinhalese. They came and stopped the crazy people before they killed us. We never forgot that. We rebuilt them and moved on. That was our family way. We are businessmen, not politicians. My father kept things as simple as possible.”

Mural has also recalled the 1983 violence during the interview “There were riots but after 1983, it became normal. Remember I was staying at hostel in school for seven years and living with many Sinhalese and Tamils in the same dormitories so it was not that difficult.”

Murali also claimed that he was never interested in the captaincy of the team.

“Did you ever want to captain?” asked Roebuck and Murali replied “No! I thought it was a burden”

Muralitharan has also detailed his plans to build a village with all facilities in the Tamil areas of the country

“ After the [2005] tsunami we did something because the infrastructure was down. We provided free medicine and nurses, empowered women and built a village with 1000 houses and facilities like cricket fields, schools. I want to build the same in the Tamil area in the north next. [The] President has given us 50 acres of land to build 300 houses and nurseries and the rest. We expect 15,000 people to benefit for this project” Murali said.

www.dailymirror.lk

--------------------------------------------------------------------

He means about JVP avtivities. They are the only Communist Party active in those days. Then, there isn't any confusing parts in the Murali's speech as Dailymirror news said.

------------Sir. Priyantha De Silva

Sri Lanka Beat Ausis and comeback stuns Australia in Melbourne

Sri Lanka comeback stuns Australia in Melbourne

First one-day international, Melbourne:
Sri Lanka 243-9 (44.2 ovs) beat Australia 239-8 (50 ovs) by one wicket
Match scorecard

Malinga and Mathews set a new one-day international record for the ninth wicket

A record ninth-wicket partnership between Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga took Sri Lanka from the brink of defeat to victory against Australia.

Australia made 239-8 and had Sri Lanka rattled at 107-8, with Xavier Doherty taking four wickets and a run-out.

But then Mathews (77 not out) and Malinga (56) put on 132 before Muttiah Muralitharan hit the winning run.

Australia will play Sri Lanka in two more one-dayers before taking on England in the five-Test Ashes series.

Mathews and Malinga's ninth-wicket stand was a record in one-day international cricket, beating the previous mark of 126 set by India pair Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani in the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells.

"It was a dramatic finish and the way Lasith batted was excellent," said man-of-the-match Mathews, whose unbeaten 77 came from 84 deliveries.

606: DEBATE Have the Aussies forgotten how to win? Dilbert

"I gave the spinners to Lasith to deal with while I took on the pace. I'm still catching my breath and to do this against Australia is a great achievement."

Until tail-ender Malinga joined 23-year-old Mathews at the crease, it seemed like the headlines would be stolen by debutant Doherty, who finished with figures of 4-46.

His left-arm spin clean bowled captain Kumar Sangakkara for 49, before Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Silva and Nuwan Kulasekara - for a duck - also fell to the slow left-armer.

The 27-year-old had earlier removed Upul Tharanga with a superb flicked throw from mid-off.

Sri Lanka had collapsed to 107-8 and an early finish was on the cards, but Malinga had other ideas.

The pace bowler became a potent striker of the ball, smashing 56 from 48 balls and hitting six fours and two sixes.

HIGHEST ODI NINTH-WICKET STANDS 132 - AD Mathews & SL Malinga, SL v Aus, Nov 2010 126* - Kapil Dev & SMH Kirmani, Ind v Zim, Jun 1983 118 - JP Yadav & IK Pathan, Ind v NZ, Aug 2005 103 - SM Pollock & TM Odoyo, Africa XI v Asia XI, Jun 2007 101 - MS Dhoni & RP Singh, Ind v WI, Jun 2009

Unfortunately for the sprightly paceman, with the scores level and more than six overs to spare, Steve Smith made him pay for a dicey run with a direct hit, with one run needed for victory and one wicket remaining.

Mathews saw out the rest of the over to leave last man Muralitharan on strike.

One of the greatest bowlers of all time then became his country's saviour with the bat, hitting Shane Watson for four with the second ball of the 45th over.

Earlier, Michael Hussey scored an unbeaten 71 although the home side were restricted to 239-8 thanks to a brilliant performance from 21-year-old Thisara Perera, who took 5-46 from eight overs.

Australia stand-in captain Michael Clarke paid tribute to Sri Lanka but admitted his side were finding it hard to buy a win - having now six consecutive matches in all formats of the game.

"We probably could have been better with bat, and with Sri Lanka at 107-8 we should have won the game," said the skipper.

"All the boys are disappointed. We can't seem to turn the corner and get over the winning line.

"Sri Lanka are a great example - you can always win the game from whatever position you are in."

Clarke was deputising for skipper Ricky Ponting, who was on compassionate leave to attend the funeral of his grandmother in Launceston.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/9154270.stm

Sri Lankan U-19s tie one-day 2010

Lankan U-19s tie one-day series

CANTERBURY: England Under-19s prevailed over Sri Lanka Under-19s by 51 runs (D/L method) in the rain-affected fifth game in Canterbury as the visitors succumbed for 125, chasing 177 in 41 overs.
England had struggled batting first and only managed 184 before being bowled out in 48.2 overs, but it proved sufficient to level the five-match series two-all. The teams share the spoils with the third game having been abandoned due to rain.

The hosts elected to bat and got off to a confident start, the openers adding 40 in 7.2 overs before Bhanuka Rajapaksa dismissed Joe Root. Lewis Gregory supported the set opener Jack Manuel, taking the score to 74 in 14.2 overs before wickets began to tumble.
Lahiru Jayaratne was the main tormentor, dismissing Gregory and Luke Wells within the space of three balls. Ateeq Javid did not last long and was run out for 9 as the innings began to lose steam. When Manuel fell for a fluent 63 off 74 balls with the score on 117, Sri Lanka sensed a chance to skittle out the opposition under 150. However, captain Paul Best, coming in at eight, put paid to those hopes with a responsible unbeaten 28. The rest of the tail held on to lift England to 184.

Sri Lanka’s top order found the pair of Matt Dunn and David Payne too hot to handle. Ramith Rambukwella scored 16 runs as the opening batsmen added 21 in the first five overs. Things changed quickly after that, and 21 for 0 soon became 28 for 4. When Dhanushka Gunathilleke was dismissed for 5, Sri Lanka had lost half their side for 43. Rain intervened at this juncture and having lost five top-order wickets Sri Lanka came back facing a steeper target. Though three lower-order batsmen managed 20s, it was a task too steep for them and they were bowled out in the 35th over, Dunn and Payne sharing seven wickets in all.

Best was delighted with the result, saying after the match: “It was great to win the final match and level the one day series. The result was a fair reflection of the strength of the two teams and it was fantastic for England players ending their U19s career to finish on a high.”
Scores: England Under-19s 184 (48.2) (J Manuel 63, P Best 28 n.o., Lahiru Jayaratne 3/22)
Sri Lanka Under-19s 125 (34.1) (Denuwan Rajakaruna 28, Akshu Fernando 23, Chatura Peiris 26, M Dunn 3/15, D Payne 4/40).

Sri Lankan World cup venues to be used for West Windies tour 2010

World cup venues to be used for Windies tour

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka Cricket is planning to play all the matches during the West Indies tour here in November-December at the three World Cup venues – R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sooriyawewa in Hambantota and Pallakele in Kandy.

West Indies are due to play a series of three Tests and five One-Day Internationals during their tour of Sri Lanka. Presently, the venues allocated for the Tests are Dambulla, SSC and P Sara Oval and for the five ODIs – Hambantota, Galle, SSC and R Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga told The Nation, that the venues decided are provisional and that there is every possibility that the eight matches (3 Tests and 5 ODIs) could be played at the three World Cup venues.

“We want to give our national players the maximum opportunity of playing at these three venues ahead of the World Cup matches,” said Ranatunga.
“The playing areas at Hambantota, Pallakele and R Premadasa Stadium are ready our only concern is the construction of the stadium around it. We will review the work in progress by end of September and then decide whether the matches can be played there,” he said.
Ranatunga also stated that every opportunity is being given to the national selectors to pick the best side for the World Cup.

“We already have India and New Zealand playing in a tri-series. There is also South Africa ‘A’ playing concurrently with Sri Lanka ‘A’. Pakistan ‘A’ is also due shortly to play in two unofficial tests and take part in a one-day tri-series. There is enough opportunity on offer for the players to perform and compete for places before the final selection,” said Ranatunga.
Pallakele hosted the first unofficial 4-day test between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and South ‘A’ which ended on Friday. Hambantota is slotted to host the first unofficial 4-day test between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Pakistan ‘A’ from September 9-12.

The 14th edition of Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be held from February 17 to April 2 with Sri Lanka due to host 12 of the 49 matches which includes five of their six group matches at R. Premadasa Stadium (3 matches) Hambantota (1) and Pallakele (1) plus the second quarter-final and the first semi-final (both at R Premadasa Stadium). Sri Lanka will also host all the group matches played by Pakistan at all three venues.

West Indies tour of Sri Lanka (provisional itinerary)
Nov 16-20: 1st Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Dambulla
Nov 24-28: 2nd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at SSC
Dec 1-5: 3rd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at P Sara Oval
Dec. 9: 1st ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Hambantota
Dec 11: 2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Hambantota
Dec 14: 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Galle
Dec 17: 4th ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at SSC
Dec 19: 5th ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at R Premadasa Stadium

Murali ends test cricket career on a high

Murali ends test cricket career on a high

Muttiah Muralitharan’s illustrious test cricket career ended on Thursday as captured his 800th wicket and his team going on to win the first Test match against India at the Galle stadium. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was present to congratulate him, so as thousands of his supporters and well wishers. Some of the moments captured by photographer Sanka Vidanagama are seen here.

800 Wickets taker, Murali admired in South America too!

Murali admired in South America too!

July 25, 2010, 9:11 pm

By Rossana Favero-Karunaratna

While we celebrate the outstanding record of Muttiah Muralitharan ,it is fantastic to get to know that his achievement will reach Latin America too, the land of soccer. Why? Because cricket is starting to become really popular in that region, although the first international cricket match was registered in the XIX century!!

The oldest international cricket match, registered in South America was played in 1868. It was the first international match of the MVCC-Montevideo Cricket Club from Uruguay against the Buenos Aires Cricket Club from Argentina. It took place at the MVCCground called La Blanqueada.

The Montevideo Cricket Club (MVCC) is a multisport club founded in 1861 by English immigrants. Its predecessor was the Victoria Cricket Club, which was founded in 1842. Later rugby was played as well.

Argentine cricket claims to be really old. too. They celebrated their 200th anniversary on 21 October 2006. Cricket Argentina reports that "An event was held at San Antonio College, where the first recorded match was played back in 1806 by British Soldiers. The history of cricket in Argentina can roughly be divided into various phases. From 1806 to 1900 cricket was established in Argentina, with the first international matches played, the major clubs founded, and the great North v South contest beginning. The Buenos Aires Cricket Club in Palermo was inaugurated in 1864, and is the historical reference for cricket in the country. Now known as the Buenos Aires Cricket & Rugby Club, a project is in place where cricket will once again hopefully become a practiced sport at this famous club".

While Argentina first played international cricket in 1868 against Uruguay as mentioned above, their international competition against Brazil date back to 1888, and against Chile to 1893, this encounter is known for the Argentine team taking three and a half days to reach Santiago in Chile, crossing the Andes by mule! In 1891 the famous annual three-day North v South fixture was played for the very first time, and is still today a highlight of the domestic calendar. The first league competition was held in 1897.

The Argentine Cricket Association was founded in 1913, and will celebrate their centenary in 2013.The Association reports that the years from 1900 to 1939 are considered the golden years where cricket reached a high standard with many players reaching English county level. Argentina played first class matches between 1911 and 1938. Unfortunately the sport went into decline after World War II, until Argentina became an Associate member of the ICC in 1974, and took part in its first ICC Trophy in 1979.

Brazil became an ICC member in the year 2002. Their international debut came in 2006 after their membership , when they took part in Division Three of the ICC Americas Championship in Suriname.

Brazil won the 2009 ICC Americas Championship Division Three, winning all of its matches against Belize, Chile and Peru. This victory enabled Brazil to qualify for the 2010 ICC Americas Championship Division Two. However, they struggled in this higher grade. They lost all of their four matches and were relegated back to Division Three.

Cricket has been played in Peru for 150 years, at the really splendid Lima Cricket & Football Club. The Lima Cricket and Football Club is the oldest Cricket Club in South America created 151 years ago

Cricket in Peru is undergoing resurgence as a recently-admitted Affiliate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and a founder member of Cricket South America, along with Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Peru gained affiliate membership of the ICC on 29th June 2007. They have played in every edition of the South American Championships from 1997 onwards, hosting in 1999 and 2007. They have competed in the ICC Americas Championship since 2008.

Cricket has been played in Panama for almost one hundred years . It was introduced to the country by West Indians and South Asians who settled during the canal construction days. The game is most popular today among the descendants of these workers.

Their first recorded match was against Trinidad and Tobago in 1964 and in recent years a friendly series played against Venezuela in the year 2000 which they won 1-0. The team was invited to play in the Fourth South American Championships later that year. The team performed well in its first international tournament, finishing fourth of seven teams.

In Chile, cricket was first played in the country in 1829 in the coastal city of Valparaíso between the officers and men of two Royal Navy vessels and the first club, the Valparaiso Cricket Club was formed in 1860.Cricket Chile informs that " The game’s heyday in Chile was in the 1920s when Pelham ‘Plum’ Warner captained a touring side against a Valparaíso XI- regular matches were played between Valparaíso Cricket Club, the Prince of Wales Country Club as well as the Concepción Country Club, whilst the game was also played by St. Peter’s and The Grange School as fiercely as any school in England. The standard of cricket in this era is highlighted by the success of one former St. Peter’s student, Frederick ‘Freddie’ Brown, who went on to successfully captain both Surrey and England in the 1950’s".

The World War II affected the development of cricket in South America. In recent years, the ICC has played a pivotal role to promote cricket in this region. Now, for example in Chile there are now over 2,000 children involved in all levels of junior cricket with a competitive national team at U13, U15 and U19 levels.

The ICC Americas Championship is a one- day cricket tournament organized by the Americas Cricket Association for non- Test national cricket teams in the Americas. As well as providing opportunity for national teams to play international matches against teams of a similar standard, it also provides qualification into the ICC World Cricket League.

There are currently four divisions taking place biannually with promotion and relegation taking place between divisions. In 2010 Division One, for the first time, a Twenty20 tournament took place following the traditional 50 overs competition.

Although cricket remains a hugely minority sport within the sporting and primarily football culture of the countries, soon competitive records at international level will be achieved and will earn respect for all these national teams from the rest of the cricket world. The fantastic performance of Muttiah Muralitharan will be kept in the hearts of cricket lovers all over the world as a role model for all.

Bravo Murali!!