Three Nation Asian One-Day In Singapore (25 Dec 1995)

Monday 25, December 1995

Three nation Asian one-day tourney in Singapore

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

The need to stage a three-nation one-day international tournament involving Asia`s top three cricket nations India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Singapore in April is two-fold.

In recent times, there has been a great need to reinstate cricket in the schools and popularise the sport in Singapore.

"Cricket was taken off as an extra-curricular activity from the schools curriculum in the mid-seventies as it was thought to be time-consuming. The nation wanted the students to concentrate more on studies as it went through a massive development program,`` said Singapore Cricket Association treasurer Dinesh Chelvathurai.

The Singapore CA in their attempts to popularise the game which had lost interest and to have cricket reinstated in the schools, began conducting an international six-a-side cricket tournament involving the past `greats` from the top cricketing nations in 1993.

The move seems to have paid off as cricket is to be re-introduced in the schools from next year, according to Chelvathurai.

After an initial hiccup or two, the six-a-side tournament has caught on so much that two others on similar lines have been conducted in the ensuing years with great success. Sri Lanka have figured in all three and won the inaugural contest and the one played early this year.

However, the three-nation one-day competition starting in April 1 will be Singapore`s biggest-ever cricket fiesta.

"We have requested the three countries to send their World Cup sides as the tournament will be taking place soon afterwards,`` said Chelvathurai who is currently on holiday in Sri Lanka.

The Singapore tournament will be played for the Singapore Cup with attractive prize money, and will begin a fortnight after the World Cup which will be held in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka from February 11 - March 17.

The three countries will play in a round robin competition with the top two teams going into the final.

The draw for the tournament is: April 1 - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, April 3 - Sri Lanka v India, April 5 - India v Pakistan and, April 7 - Final.

All matches will be played at the Singapore CC Padang which will be turned into a cricket stadium with a seating capacity of approximately 4,000 spectators.

"All the games will be televised live on Star TV with an estimated viewing audience of 250 million people,`` said Chelvathurai, a Sri Lankan, who is a resident of Singapore since 1988. He received his primary education at S. Thomas` Prep and Royal College.

Chelvathurai hopes to use his stay in Sri Lanka to examine the possibilities of attracting package tours to Singapore during the tournament.

Source :: Lake House/Lanka Internet Services