The accreditation process for all members of the media intending to cover the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier (WT20Q) 2012 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now open.Members of the media who wish to carry out their work at the event are advised to submit their applications before the close of business on Friday 17 February 2012 (Dubai time).

The tournament will see 16 Associate and Affiliate teams compete across five venues from 13 to 24 March. The venues that will be used are Dubai International Cricket Stadium, ICC Global Cricket Academy Oval No. 1, ICC Global Cricket Academy Oval No. 2, Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhbai.

The full schedule of matches and teams participating in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier can be found here.For organisational purposes, all media representatives intending to cover the event must apply for accreditation. Please email as soon as possible to accreditation@icc-cricket.com with the following information:

• ·         Name
• ·         Organisation
• ·          Title
• ·         Matches intending to cover
• ·         A j-peg passport sized image
• ·         A copy of your passport photo page

By sending the information requested above, it will be understood that the applicant has agreed to and accepted the ICC WT20Q 2012 Media Accreditation Terms and Conditions which are available here.

“After we lost the first two games, our coach (Romesh) Kaluwitharana asked us to attack the England left-arm spinners who dominated us earlier. I think the strategy worked really well.

I was advised to hit hard at the loose balls. I did so though we were in a spot of bother (2 down for 22) when I went to the middle. But the wicket was really good for batting.

Before the match, our plan was to restrict them below 275 because we knew we could chase such a target on this wicket.

I hope to do my best if I’m called for the National side (now in Australia for a triangular ODI series). There are pretty good batsmen in the National side now but by being able to mix with them for top international matches I will gain vital experience.”

Tier – A

Teams

M

WO

LO

FW

FL

FT

MT

NR

POINTS

Ragama Cricket Club

2

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

27.405

Singhalese Sports Club

2

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

27.200

Colts Cricket Club

2

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

24.930

Chilaw Marians CC

2

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

23.700

Tamil Union Cricket & AC

2

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

21.050

Badureliya Cricket Club

2

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

14.650

Moors Sports Club

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

8.620

Bloomfield Cricket & AC

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

7.540

Lankan Cricket Club

2

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

6.635

Nondescripts Cricket Club

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

6.520

Tier – B

Teams

M

WO

LO

FW

FL

FT

MT

NR

POINTS

Army Sports Club

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

32.160

Navy Sports Club

2

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

28.300

Colombo Cricket Club

2

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

20.420

Air Force Sports Club

2

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

19.580

Saracens Sports Club

2

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

18.090

Panadura Sports Club

2

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

15.260

Burgher Recreation Club

2

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

15.000

Police Sports Club

2

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

14.920

Sri Lanka Ports Authority SC

2

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

7.940

Kurunegala YCC

2

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

7.395

Sun Feb 5
08:20 SLST | 03:20 GMT

1st ODI - Australia vs India
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Wed Feb 8
09:50 SLST | 04:20 GMT

2nd ODI - India vs Sri Lanka
W.A.C.A., Perth

Fri Feb 10
09:50 SLST | 04:20 GMT

3rd ODI - Australia vs Sri Lanka
W.A.C.A., Perth

Sun Feb 12
08:50 SLST | 03:20 GMT

4th ODI - Australia vs India
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Tue Feb 14
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

5th ODI - India vs Sri Lanka
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Fri Feb 17
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

6th ODI - Australia vs Sri Lanka
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Sun Feb 19
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

7th ODI - Australia vs India
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane

Tue Feb 21
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

8th ODI - India vs Sri Lanka
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane

Fri Feb 24
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

9th ODI - Australia vs Sri Lanka
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Sun Feb 26
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

10th ODI - Australia vs India
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Tue Feb 28
08:50 SLST | 03:20 GMT

11th ODI - India vs Sri Lanka
Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Fri Mar 2
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

12th ODI - Australia vs Sri Lanka
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Sun Mar 4
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

1st Final ODI - TBC vs TBC
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane

Tue Mar 6
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

2nd Final ODI - TBC vs TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Thu Mar 8
08:50 SLST| 03:20 GMT

3rd Final ODI - TBC vs TBC
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

2.      Angelo Mathews (Vice-Captain)

3.      Upul Tharanga

4.      T M Dilshan

5.      Kumar Sangakkara

6.      Dinesh Chandimal

7.      Lahiru Thirimanne

8.      Thisara Perera

9.      Farveez Maharoof

10.  Rangana Herath

11.  Sachithra Senanayake

12.  Lasith Malinga

13.  Nuwan Kulasekera

14.  Chamara Welagedera

15.  Dhammika Prasad

Stand By:

1.      Thilan Samaraweera

2.      Suraj Randiv

3.      Kanishka Elvitigala

South Africa’s batsman Graeme Smith plays a shot during the fifth One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on January 20, 2012.

Sri Lankan players celebrate the dismissal of South Africa’s batsman Graeme Smith during the fifth One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on January 22, 2012 .

Sri Lankan batsman Lahiru Thrimanne plays a shot during the fifth One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on January 22, 2012 .

Courtesy: International Cricket Council

Sachithra Senanayake struck a six off the penultimate ball to give Sri Lanka a two-wicket triumph over South Africa Sunday in the final match of a five one-day international series won 3-2 by the hosts.

Captain AB de Villiers and predecessor Graeme Smith (125 each) struck tons as South Africa made 312-4, but a century from Kumar Sangakkara (102) led the tourists to 314-8 at the Wanderers and a second win within three days.

Sri Lanka appeared to be cruising until Sangakkara became the fourth wicket to fall with 275 runs on the board and a late South Africa rally saw them grab two wickets within three balls during the final over.

It left the tourists needing five runs from two balls to succeed and Senanayake hit Robin Peterson for a six to snatch victory in a thrilling climax to the two-month tour.

De Villiers’ ploy to bowl a spinner in the final over was a courageous one. Peterson showed great character by flighting his first ball and bowling Nuwan Kulasekara first ball.

This was followed by a single and then Lahiru Thirimanne was caught at short thirdman going for another big stroke.

Senanayake, batting for Sri Lanka for the first time, blocked his first ball before slogging his second over midwicket for six to finish the game.

“We came back strongly at the end of our tour and needed to prove a point after being bowled out for 43 in the first ODI,” said Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

“Chasing 313 runs for victory meant it was always going to be tight and I am so proud of my team. We had a fantastic time in South Africa and it was just a pity that we lost the Test and one-day series narrowly.”

Man-of-the-series De Villiers said: “We have a lot to work on before touring New Zealand next month, but I am very happy with the way the team fought to the end.”

Sangakkara struck 10 fours in a maiden ODI ton against South Africa and there were also valuable contributions from Thirimanne (69), Upul Tharanga (46) and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (41).

De Villiers and Smith excelled as South Africa recovered from a sluggish early run rate having being sent in to bat by Dilshan in a match delayed for one hour by rain early in the Sri Lankan innings.

De Villiers finished unbeaten after facing 98 deliveries while Smith received a standing ovation from the sell-out 30,000 crowd after being caught by Dinesh Chandimal at mid-wicket off the bowling of Lasith Malinga.

While the Proteas skipper confirmed his position as one of the best stroke players in the world today with 10 fours and four sixes, Smith could not contain his joy as he walked off after a timely first ODI ton in three years.

There was a media and public outcry against him just a week ago after innings of six, 28 and two in the first three matches of the series before he stopped the rot with a brisk 68 in Kimberley two days ago.

Smith embroidered his innings with nine fours and four sixes off 143 balls during a 203-minute stand and the sun-drenched crowd revelled in his change of fortune.

South Africa lost opener Alviro Petersen (6) with only 10 runs on the board and were 70-2 when Faf du Plessis (24) departed before De Villiers and Smith took charge.

The Proteas stood at 133-2 after 30 overs and a run rate of 4.43 needed improvement on a good batting track, which the captains past and present duly did with 44 runs coming during a power play soon after.

South Africa’s batsman Graeme Smith (L) plays a shot as Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara tries to make a catch during the fourth One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at De Beers Diamond Oval Stadium in Kimberley on January 20, 2012 .

Sri Lankan players celebrate the dismissal of South Africa’s batsman AB de Villiers during the fourth one-day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at De Beers Diamond Oval Stadium in Kimberley on January 20, 2012 .

Sri Lanka’s captain and batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan plays a shot during the fourth one-day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at De Beers Diamond Oval Stadium in Kimberley on January 20, 2012 .

Sri Lanka’s batsman Thisara Perera plays a shot during the fourth One Day International match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at De Beers Diamond Oval Stadium in Kimberley, on January 20, 2012 .

South Africa’s captain AB de Villiers (L) congratulates Sri Lanka’s batsman Angelo Mathews (R) for his victory during the fourth One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at De Beers Diamond Oval Stadium in Kimberley on January 20, 2012.

Sri Lanka celebrated a rare success Friday on their tour of South Africa with a five-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international.

Big knocks from captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (87), man-of-the-match Thisara Perera (69) and Dinesh Chandimal (59) lifted the visitors to 304-5 after the home side reached to 299-7 with skipper AB de Villiers (96) to the fore.

After keeping close to the six-run-an-over target at the De Beers Diamond Oval for much of the innings, the Sri Lankan batsman hit out against a South African attack sorely missing rested fast bowler Dale Steyn.

Unfortunately, the win came too late for the tourists to effect the five-match series with the Proteas taking a winning 3-0 lead three days ago thanks to a four-run win in Bloemfontein.

“This was a fantastic effort as we were hoping to restrict South Africa to 250 or 260 runs,” said Dilshan, “and on a personal note it was nice getting a big score again.”

Dilshan averaged a run a ball in a 112-minute stand that included nine fours and two sixes while Perera was even quicker, taking just 44 balls with three fours and five sixes.

Before the ODI matches began Sri Lanka lost a Test series 2-1, prompting the government to order a probe into a “crisis situation” after losses to England, Australia and Pakistan as well.

De Villiers hit eight fours and three sixes off 76 balls before being bowled by Perera with the ball slamming into middle stump after an attempt to steer it down leg side backfired.

Graeme Smith returned to form with 68 runs after managing only six, 28 and two in the first three matches of the series, triggering a media and public outcry that led to De Villiers coming out in support of the Test captain.

He struck seven fours and a six off 69 balls in the northern Cape city before being caught by Dilshan off the bowling of Lasith Malinga.

His dismissal 23.5 overs into the innings was soft with the bat turning in his hand as he attempted a leg-side shot off a delivery that was short of a length.

The final two games will be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on the 3^rd and 6^th of February.

Sri Lanka Cricket takes pleasure in inviting the Print and Electronic Media for a Q and A opportunity with both Captains namely James Taylor of England and Thilina Kandamby of Sri Lanka. England head Coach David Parsons and Sri Lanka head Coach Romesh Kaluwitharana will also be in attendance for the Q and A session.
Details for the Press Conference are as follows

• Venue                :- Sri Lanka Cricket Headquarters
• Date                 : -  24^thJanuary 2012
• Time                :-   11.30  am

Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga (C) plays a shot from South Africa’s bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe (L) as South Africa’s wicketkeeper AB de Villiers waits on January 17, 2012 on the third one-day international at Chevrolet Park Stadium in Bloemfontein.

South Africa’s bowler Morne Morkel (C) celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka’s batsman Dinesh Chandimal (L) with his teammates during the third One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park Stadium in Bloemfontein on January 17, 2012.

Sri Lanka’s bowler Lasith Malinga celebrates the dismissal of South Africa’s batsman Graeme Smith during the third One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park Stadium in Bloemfontein on January 17, 2012 .

Sri Lanka’s captain and bowler Tillakaratne Dilshan (R) delivers a ball to South Africa’s batsman JP Duminy (C) during the third One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park Stadium in Bloemfontein on January 17, 2012.

South African ground staff put on the covers as rain starts during the third One Day International match (ODI) between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park Stadium in Bloemfontein on January 17, 2012.