Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is still very keen on hosting the Asia Cup in August and it is going to depend on how we conduct the Australian series which will commence from June 7, said Vice President of SLC Ravin Wickramaratne yesterday. Hosting the Australian tour successfully would considerably strengthen Sri Lanka’s hands to hold the Asia Cup added Vice President of SLC. "We have already arranged the Australian full cricket series (Test, ODI and T-20’S ) and the Australia team is scheduled to arrive here yesterday evening for the most important cricket series between two countries".
SLC top officials already met ACC top officials at the IPL final match and the discussion between them is very positive. "We haven’t reached any final decision and it is most probably decided after the way we conduct the Australian series", added SLC Vice President. Actually the final decision is pending and still in balance and we hope it is going to be a positive decision at this hard period.
As the host of the Asia Cup, amount of revenue generate will not only be beneficial to them but also to the country. The total amount SLC and the country is bound to receive if the Asia Cup is held in Sri Lanka is around $ 5.5-6 million. At this difficult period of the country this will be very important. "That’s why we are still trying to persuade the countries to play in Sri Lanka. The decision is still in the balance but we haven’t ruled out the possibility of playing it here.” And we are already planning to host the Asia Cup and we all are in a positive mood, said CEO of SLC Ashley de Silva .
The Asian Cup tournament is scheduled to be played from August 27 to September 11 with a qualification tournament to be played from August 20 to decide on the sixth team in the competition. The five full member countries of the ICC – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be joined by one qualifying country from the Asian region.
Australia full cricket series will commence with T-20 series and then ODI’s and two Tests in Galle followed by a two-Test tour to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, senior official of the Sports Ministry said Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe also expected to discuss with SLC top officials regarding the Australian cricket series as well as the possibility of hosting the Asian Cup. The Sports Minister is also very keen to conduct these tournaments at this difficult period as the amount of revenue it will generate will beneficial to the country and the Minister wanted to clear the picture before this cricket series, added the senior official of the Sports Ministry.
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