SL_PLAY_USA_22MAR1996

Sri Lanka To Play Two 50-Over Games In Los Angeles

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

Sri Lanka the proud world champions of one-day cricket will make a historic tour of America where they will play two matches on April 20 and 21 after their tour of the West Indies.

The organisers of this grand happening is `THE LANKAN TRIBUNE`, the leading national Sri Lankan newspaper in the United States for sports and community affairs coverage whose publisher is Cosmas Mahagama, a former Sri Lankan basketball captain.

The tour committee in the US comprising Cosmas Mahagama, Dr. Cyril Ernest, Philip Fernando, Merryl Dunuwille, Mervyn Pieris, Bryce Jamie, Chandra Mohan and Nimal Abeywardena are hard at work drawing up all arrangements to make the visit of the Lankans a memorable one.

The Lankan cricketers will be pitted against the United States National Cricket team on Saturday, April 20 and on the next day will face up to the Southern California CA team. Both games will be of 50 overs duration and played at the picturesque Woodley Park Cricket Grounds, Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley, California.

Judging by the response so far, the Woodley grounds will be given a carnival atmosphere by the cricket starved fans from California who are expected to pack the ground. Many hotels in the area are offering package rates for the weekend.

The organisers have also not forgotten the Cricket Fund 2,000. `THE LANKA TRIBUNE` will strengthen it with the proceeds of the Sri Lanka cricket tour of Los Angeles, because the main aim behind this fund is to take the game to the provinces and the under- privileged children in the rural schools in the country.

A Cricketers Banquet and Dance will be held on Friday, April 19 with both, Sri Lanka and US cricket teams as guests of honour. The organisers will also publish a colourful souvenir to mark the occasion.

According to Cosmas Mahagama cricket fans in the States are looking forward to seeing the explosive hitting of Aravinda de Silva who made centuries against Kenya and Australia in the World Cup. The calculated hitting of Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharane, the spinning prowess of prodigy Muttiah Muralitharan, the swing and swerve of Chaminda Vaas and the exquisite stroke play; of skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillekeratne.

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