Saman Jayantha returns for another tilt at the Sixes © Cricinfo Ltd.

Hong Kong, November 1: Expert Sixes exponent Saman Jayantha will once more lead Sri Lanka's bid for a first Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes crown next weekend.

The former international star was Player of the Tournament in Hong Kong in 2003 and was also to the fore last year when he was captain of his country as they reached the Cup semi-finals, losing out to eventual champions India.

Although they have yet to win the world's most prestigious Sixes tournament, Sri Lanka have been one of the most consistent teams in recent years, making it to at least the semi-finals of the Cup in the last three editions and on four occasions out of the last five.

And with 32-year-old Jayantha, an aggressive batsman who made 17 one-day international appearances for Sri Lanka, once more at the helm they will be hoping to go the extra distance this year and add their name to the illustrious list of Sixes winners.

Joining Jayantha at the Kowloon Cricket Club on November 11-12 will be two other survivors from last year's squad, hard-hitting batsman Thilina Kandamby and versatile all-rounder Gayan Wijekoon.

Fellow international representatives Kaushaul Lokuarachchi, Dilhara Lokuhettige and Kaushalya Weeraratne are also included in the seven-man squad along with Malintha Gajanayake, who will keep wicket.

With the wealth of all-round talent at his disposal, Jayantha will be confident that Sri Lanka can progress from Pool 3, which also includes four-time Sixes champions Pakistan and hosts Hong Kong.

This will be Sri Lanka's ninth successive appearance in the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes and their 11th overall, having only missed out in 1994.

Their best performances to date came in 1993 and 2004. On both occasions they finished runners-up to England. Their only Sixes silverware came in 1997 when they overcame West Indies in the Plate final.

Clive Howard, Chairman of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA), said: "In the last few years, the Sri Lankan teams have played some wonderful, exciting cricket at the Sixes and they've been unfortunate not to have won the tournament.

"With the strength in depth of their team this year they certainly have the ability to go all the way this time."

In this year's nine-nation event, Pool 1 is made up of Australia, India and West Indies, while Pool 2 consists of England, New Zealand and South Africa.

Carrying a first prize of US$100,000 and total prize money of US$280,000, the increase to nine teams this year means the format will consist of three stages. The first and second stages will be a round-robin format in three pools of three teams with the final stage being on a knockout basis.

Games are played in five-over innings with each team member, other than the wicket-keeper, bowling one over. The third and fourth place play-off and the final will both be contested over five eight-ball overs.

Among the big-name players who have confirmed their participation in the tournament are Nicky Boje and Lance Klusener of South Africa, Darren Gough and Dominic Cork of England, West Indians Carlton Baugh and Marlon Samuels and Pakistanis Imran Nazir and Yasir Arafat.

Priced at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 14 and under, two-day tickets for the 2006 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are in high demand. For ticket information, visit www.hksixes.com

Related Link:

• Sri Lanka Team Page

The 2006 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on November 11-12. Special tickets are priced at HK$550 and include reserved seating, a lunch box for both days of the event and an Official Programme. Two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 14 and under, went on sale from Monday, October 9 at the following outlets: Hong Kong Cricket Association (Tel: 2504-8102); Kowloon Cricket Club (10 Cox's Road, Jordan, 2367-4141); Hong Kong Cricket Club (137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley, 2574-6266); Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar (Prince's Building, Central 2810-6988); The Viceroy (Wanchai 2827-7777); Gaylord Restaurant (Tsim Sha Tsui 2376-1001) and Bayside Brasserie (Stanley 2899-0818) . For further inquiries please visit www.hksixes.com or call 2504-8103.

Provided by the Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Charles Lau or Novan Tang at (852) 2504-8101.