SLC pledges gate collection from Australia series for public welfare

by Rex Clementine

Having donated US$ 2 million to the health sector last month to purchase essential medicine, Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday pledged to donate gate collection from the Australian series for public welfare. Tickets for the first two T-20 Internationals in Colombo were sold out 72 hours before the game. Pallekele T-20 faces the same fate while there’s also a high demand for tickets for the five match ODI series.

“The Executive Committee took a decision to donate all gate collection from the series to public welfare. We are also grateful to the Australian cricket board and the Australian government for supporting this series despite the hardships we are facing as a nation,” Mohan de Silva, Secretary of SLC told journalists yesterday during a media briefing.

De Silva also confirmed that the fate of Asia Cup depended on the success of Australia series. Sri Lanka are scheduled to host the Asia Cup in August but the economic crisis has forced the Asian Cricket Council to look at alternate venues.

Australia named a strong eleven for the game with plenty of big hitting and bowling variety. Sri Lanka were yet to announce their line-up but captain Dasun Shanaka confirmed that Kusal Mendis will keep wickets.

“We had a close series against them earlier this year. That was in their conditions and we want to put up a good show and win this series in our conditions. Our bowling looks formidable with quite a few guys gaining IPL experience. The weak link is batting and if we are able to address that, I don’t see why we aren’t a force in this year’s World Cup. Had our batting clicked in last World Cup, we could have reached the semis.

“These have been difficult times for our people and we want to win this series and put a smile on the faces of our people,” Shanaka added.

Teams:

Australia:

Aaron Finch (Captain), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson and Josh Hazlewood.

Sri Lanka:

(From) Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanindu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama and Lakshan Sandakan.