MEDIA RELEASE

SRI LANKA AIM TO HIT JACKPOT AT 2003 CATHAY PACIFIC/STANDARD CHARTERED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SIXES

HONG KONG, October 17: Sri Lanka will be aiming to strike it rich at the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.

Dulip Liyanage © Cricinfo

There will certainly be no shortage of incentive for the Dulip Liyanage-led Sri Lankan squad when they line-up in the ninth edition of the world's premier Sixes event at Kowloon Cricket Club on November 1-2.

The Sri Lankans know that if they are successful in reaching the Cup knockout phase they will be able to contemplate a rich pay-day in the event that carries a first prize of US$80,000 and a total prize fund of US$260,000.

Sri Lankan Lal Jayasinghe, the Hong Kong Cricket Association's National Coach Co-ordinator, said: "Hong Kong's prize money is more than double the Sharjah tournament, and the cricketers' workload is a lot less.

"It takes up only two days as against nearly 10 days spent in Sharjah, not to mention that one is of a six-over duration and the other 50. There's less sweat and more cash in Hong Kong!"

This year will mark Sri Lanka's sixth successive appearance in the Sixes and their eighth overall. Their only silverware to date came in 1997 when they defeated West Indies in the Plate final when the tournament was staged at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Their best showing was in 1993 when the Arjuna Ranatunga-led team, including Liyanage, were beaten off the last ball in the Cup final by Graham Gooch's England.

In addition to fast bowler Liyanage, who will act as captain and manager, the Sri Lanka team of 2003 includes three other players with international experience – Indika de Saram, Chamila Gamage and Ravi Pushpakumara.

Like Liyanage, batsman/wicket-keeper de Saram has made two previous appearances in Hong Kong, while Gamage and Pushpakumara are bowlers who have captured wickets at the highest level of the game.

Based on their performances in Hong Kong in the last two years, the Sri Lankans have been seeded fifth, behind favourites Pakistan, England, South Africa and India, but ahead of Hong Kong, Kenya and New Zealand.

Drawn in Pool 2, Sri Lanka will open their 2003 campaign against tournament debutants Kenya before taking on South Africa. They will complete the pool stage with an early morning contest against England on day two (November 2).

The top two teams from Pool 2 will qualify for the Cup knockout stage where they will face the leading two from Pool 1, which is made up of Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Hong Kong. The bottom two teams in each of the pools will compete for the Plate.

Tickets for the 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes are selling fast. 'Early bird' two-day ticket prices have been set at HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children under the age of 15. From October 18, the prices will increase to HK$380 for adults and HK$200 for children.

Games are played in five-over innings, with each team member, other than the wicket-keeper, bowling one over.

Sri Lanka squad: Indika de Saram, Chamila Gamage, Saman Jayantha, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Dulip Liyanage (captain & manager), Ruchira Palliyguru, Ravi Pushpakumara, Gayan Wijekoon.

The 2003 Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes will take place at Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox's Road, Kowloon on November 1-2. Early bird two-day passes cost HK$300 for adults and HK$150 for children aged 15 years and younger, and are on sale through Cityline (www.cityline.com.hk) as well as at the following outlets:

• Hong Kong Cricket Club (137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley, 2574 6266);
• Kowloon Cricket Club (10 Cox's Road, Jordan, 2367 4141);
• Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar (Prince's Building, Central 2810 6988);
• Hong Kong Cricket Association (Room 1019 Sports House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, 2504 8102).

Provided by CCIL/Hong Kong Cricket Association. For further information, please contact Danny Lai at (852) 2504-8102.