Sri Lanka's first two games in World Cup a sell-out (27 October 1998)

27 October 1998

Sri Lanka's first two games in World Cup a sell-out

by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

World champion Sri Lanka's opening game of the '99 World Cup at Lord's against England on May 14 and their fixture against India at Taunton on May 26 have been a sell-out.

So are 11 of the other 42 games scheduled to be held in England from May 14 to June 20.

India v South Africa (Hove) on May 15, Pakistan v West Indies (Bristol) on May 16, Australia v New Zealand (Cardiff) on May 20, England v South Africa (Oval) on May 22, New Zealand v West Indies (Southampton) on May 24, South Africa v Zimbabwe (Chelmsford) on May 29, three of the second-phase Super Six matches, the second semi-final at Edgbaston on June 17 and, the final at Lord's on June 20 are the other matches which are now effectively sold out.

Another nine games have a waiting list, but 'Wisden Cricket Monthly' quoting ECB's World Cup event manager Michael Browning said that most of those without tickets at the moment would get into these matches when unwanted tickets allocated to corporate or overseas sales are returned.

Apart from painting a rosy picture there is also the other side of the story where it is revealed that 18 matches still remain with plenty of tickets to spare.

Of these, four feature Kenya and Scotland, and three Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

World Cup cricket kicks off two days before the first match between Sri Lanka and England with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall on May 12 catering to a 'cricket-themed evening with entertainment from all the participating countries'.

The ECB has done a deal with impresario Harvey Goldsmith to stage the event, reported WCM. Goldsmith is a major figure in music circles, having promoted concerts of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and David Bowie since the 1960's.

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