E Rodrigopulle: Comment On The Singer Tourney (2 Jul 1996)

2 July 1996

Comment On Singer Trophy

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

Singer, sponsor of the Sri Lanka cricket team have made a big stitch for the game in the country and internationally too with their fantastic sponsorship package for the coming Singer World Series competition next month.

Singer along with Pure Beverages were the principal sponsors of the game in Sri Lanka. While the Coca Cola company made their presence felt in the local scene, Singer spread their sponsorship thread much farther moving into the international arena.

The coming WSC tourney which promises to be the richest and biggest tourney conducted in Sri Lanka the country of the World Cup cricket champions in being eagerly looked forward to by the whole country.

Singer as usual with their trusted excellence is sparing no pains and leaving no stone unturned to see the successful completion of this tourney.

Cricket loving chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya, Marketing Director Gamini Abeysuriya and Merchandising and Promotions Manager Jaliya Jayasuriya three efficient men are working hard to see to the successful completion of the tourney.

While everything will be tickety boo when tournament time arrives, the sponsors are hoping that the Australians will mark their presence and that the weather gods will relent.

The first tourney which was conducted two years ago and contested by Australia-Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan, was won by India in a 25 over game spoilt by rain.

This year the sponsors have brought in Zimbabwe. India, Australia and Sri Lanka make up the foursome. In case the Aussies fail to make it the sponsors have made provisions for the tourney to be conducted as a triangular.

The Australians have promised to make it for this tourney and have already announced their line up an unless the unforseen happens should be here.

The sponsors have made this one of the most lavish and lucrative tournaments to be conducted. They have made a tremendous increase in prize money they offered in the previous tourney.

The winners will take away USD 50,000 which is USD 35,000 more than what the winners pocketed last time. The runners up will take away USD 25,000. Last time it was only USD 7,500. And as usual individual award winners too will win big money.

The World Cup tourney saw the `Most Valuable Player` winning an Audi car. Singer have gone better and are offering the `player of the series` a Luxury car or a four-wheel drive jeep. They have left the option to the winner.

There is also the possibilities of former illustrious cricketing greats gracing the tourney.

Everything is going well according to the sponsors and come August it will be a cricket carnival.

Sri Lanka will gain maximum exposure when all seven matches are telecast live, locally on TNL and when STAR and other TV networks universally take the action to an estimated global viewing audience of around 500 million cricket fans in all continents.

Source :: Daily News (http.//www.lanka.net)