SL: Sri Lanka To Play First Game Against India In Singer (28 Jun 1996)

Friday 28, June 1996

Second Singer 4-nation limited-over cricket tourney

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

World Cup champions Sri Lanka will play their opening match of the second four-nation Singer World Series limited-over cricket tournament when they meet India under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium on August 28.

The curtain-raiser of the tournament will also be a night game between World Cup runner-up Australia and Zimbabwe at the same venue on August 26.

The Australia-Zimbabwe game will be preceded by a limited overs match between Sri Lanka and a Rest of the World XI at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights on August 24 in memory of the late Gamini Dissanayake, a former Minister and president of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board.

India it is understood, will not be providing any of its players to represent the World XI. The team which is being organised by the Gamini Dissanayake Foundation will be drawn from cricketers from Australia, Zimbabwe and other countries.

The first three matches of the Singer World Series will take place under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium and the last four games including the final will be played at the SSC grounds.

The four participating teams - defending champions India, host Sri Lanka, Australia and Zimbabwe play each other once on a league basis with the top two sides qualifying to play in the final on September 7.

All matches will be of 50 overs duration with the winners standing to collect prize money worth US$ 50,000 - US$ 35,000 more than what the winners India received at the inaugural tournament two years ago. The runner-up receives US$ 25,000 (formerly US$ 7,500).

There are all-round increases in the individual prize monies as well, with the `Man of the Series` collecting US$ 5,000 (formerly US$ 4,000), `Man of the Final` US$ 2,500 (formerly US$ 1,500), and `Man of the Match` US$ 3,000 (formerly US$ 500) for each league game. A win in the league game will make the winning team richer by US$ 2,000 while the loser collects US$ 1,000.

The Singer World Series draw:

August 26 : Australia v Zimbabwe at R. Premadasa Stadium (d/n)

August 28 : Sri Lanka v India at R. Premadasa Stadium (d/n)

August 30 : Sri Lanka v Australia at R. Premadasa Stadium (d/n)

September 1 : India v Zimbabwe at SSC

September 3 : Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at SSC

September 5 : India v Australia at SSC

September 7 : Final at SSC.

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