SL: BCCSL Chief - Sri Lanka Must Also Reach Test Summit (29 June 1996)

29 June 1996

Lanka must reach Test summit as well: cricket chief

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka Cricket chief Upali Dharmadasa said that it was left to Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga and his officials to ensure that Sri Lanka attain the status of world champions in Test cricket as well.

"We are the world champions in limited overs cricket today. With the proper facilities and by laying the correct infrastructure we should improve step by step towards achieving the goal of world champions in Test cricket,`` said Dharmadasa at the Coca Cola Premier Division Cricket `95/96 awards presentation held at Hotel Taj Samudra on Thursday evening.

The Cricket Board president while thanking Pure Beverages Company for sponsoring the premier division I cricket tournament said that he hoped the company would continue its sponsorship when its three-year contract expires at the end of the year.

"I hope Pure Beverages will continue to sponsor with a greatly enhanced sum so that the cricketers will benefit in the future``.

"Pure Beverages have pumped in a lot of money to improve the infrastructural facilities in the outstations by constructing concrete wickets. I hope they will continue the good work. Cricket needs sponsors like Pure Beverages to help Sri Lanka achieve its goals in the next few years,`` he said.

Sponsorship for the Coca Cola Premier Division Cricket tournament for `95-96 exceeded rupees three million.

"Every winner has set himself a goal at the beginning of the season and achieved it. The Sri Lanka team did it in the World Cup, CCC in winning the division I Segment `A` and BRC in their Centenary Year in winning the division I Segment `B`,`` said Pure Beverages managing director Ana Punchihewa, who was the chief guest at the awards presentation.

"What many people tend to forget in the euphoria of success is that there is a team working back stage which has contributed towards the ultimate result. All of them in a way have played their part,`` said Punchihewa.

He also thanked the officials forming the tournament and umpires committees for helping to conclude the tournament successfully and added: "We are the World Cup champions and people will be wanting to know how we are producing such good cricketers. Therefore, we should help preserve the high standards of the premier cricket tournament``.

A brief video on Sri Lanka`s successful cricket tour of New Zealand in February 1995 titled `where it all began` was shown to a large and distinguished gathering. It was following this tour, the Sri Lanka cricketers went from strength to strength to finally clinch the Wills World Cup, a year later.

Members of Sri Lanka`s World Cup winning team made a fine gesture by being present for the occasion with skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, his deputy Aravinda de Silva and Asanka Gurusinha participating in the distribution of awards along with Dharmadasa and Punchihewa.

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