Launch of ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2006 in Colombo on Monday

The International Cricket Council (ICC), in conjunction with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), will officially launch the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2006 (ICC U/19 CWC) in Colombo on Monday 28 November.

The tournament will take place between 5 and 19 February and will involve 16 teams playing 44 matches over 15 days at five venues in the country’s capital city, four of which have staged international cricket.

The launch will take place in the Crystal Ballroom at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo from 10.30am.

The launch will include speeches from Mr Ehsan Mani, the President of the ICC, and Mr Duleep Mendis, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SLC.

There will be an opportunity for the media to ask questions of former Sri Lanka captains Mr Bandula Warnapura, who is also the tournament director for the ICC U/19 CWC, and Mr Arjuna Ranatunga, and also Mr Romesh Kaluwitharana, the former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman who played in the first U/19 CWC in 1988.

This will be followed by a presentation on the 2006 tournament by Mr Warnapura and there will be an opportunity to take photographs of the trophy with the various dignitaries in attendance.

WHO: ICC President Mr Ehsan Mani, Chairman of SLC Mr Jayantha Dharmadasa, SLC CEO Mr Duleep Mendis, ICC U/19 CWC Tournament Director Bandula Warnapura, Mr Arjuna Ranatunga and Mr Romesh Kaluwitharana

WHAT: Launch of the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup

WHEN: Monday 28 November from 10.30am

WHERE: The Crystal Ballroom at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo

The ICC U/19 CWC 2006 will be the sixth time the event has been staged and the second time it has been hosted by Sri Lanka.

The five previous tournaments have been held in Australia (1988), South Africa (1998), Sri Lanka (2000), New Zealand (2002) and Bangladesh (2004).

Past winners are Australia (1988 & 2002), England (1998), India (2000) and Pakistan (2004).