With deep sorrow Sri Lanka Cricket announce the demise of former All Ceylon Captain C. I. Gunasekera.

His remains are lying at his residence at Sir James Pieries Mawatta (Formerly Dickmans Road) and will be taken to the Jawatte cemetery for burial at 3.30 pm today.

Conroy Ievers Gunasekera was born on the 14th of July in 1920. CI as he was popularly known was a right hand batsmen and bowled right arm leg break googlys.

He captained Ceylon and played in 20 first class matches. The late CI scored 1131 runs with a highest score of 212, which included 2 centuries and four fifties. Mr. Gunasekera took 53 wickets in 20 first class matches with the best bowling figure of 8 for 69. CI has recorded two five wickets and two ten wicket hauls.

Sri Lanka Cricket on behalf of all the staff and players convey our deepest sympathies to his wife Doreen and son Chris during very difficult time.

May his soul rest in peace

Sri Lanka “A” Team for the first unofficial four day match

1. Lahiru Thirimanne
2. Dimuth Karunaratne
3. Dinesh Chandimal
4. Kaushal Silva
5. Kosala Kulasekara
7. These players will be select only after the 3^rd Test
9. Suranga Lakmal
10. Sachithra Senanayake
11. Nuwan Pradeep
12. Seekuge Prasanne
13. Chaminda Vidanapathirana
14. Janaka Guneratne
15. Nadeera Nawala

Two Practice Games against New Zealand

04^th August

1. Mahela Udawatta
2. Lahiru Thirimanne
3. Dinesh Chandimal
4. Chamara Silva
5. Thilina Kandamby
6. Milinda Siriwardana
7. Kosala Kulasekara
8. Farveez Maharoof
9. Sujeewa Silva
10. S Prasanna
11. Thissara Perera
12. Nuwan Pradeep
13. Dilshan Munaweera
14. Dilhara Lokuhettege
15. TBC

07^th August 2010

1. Upul Tharanga (Capt)
2. Dilshan Munaweera
3. Kushal Janith (W/K)
4. C Kapugedara
5. Jeevan Mendis
6. Kaushal Lokuarachchi
7. Dilhara Lokuhettige
8. Chinthaka Jayasinghe
9. Tharanga Lakshitha
10. Sajeewa Weerakoon
11. Sachithra Senanayake
12. Akalanka Ganegama
13. Milinda Siriwardana
14. Sujeewa Silva
15. S Prasanna

Warm-up game against SA “A” Team on 07^th & 08^th August 2010

1. Michael Vandort
2. Nadeera Nawala
3. Jehan Mubarak (Capt.)
4. Ashan Priyanjana
5. Janaka Guneratne
6. Gehan de Silva (W/K)
7. Tissara Perera
8. Sohan Boralessa
9. Chaminda Vidanapathirana
10. Dinesh Dharshanapriya
11. Sachith Pathirana
12. Shalika Karunanayake
13. Ranesh Perera
14. Sameera Soyza
15. Hans Fernando

South Asian Games 20 players squad

1. Jeewantha Kulatunga
2. Malinga Bandara
3. Kaushalya Weeraratne
4. Chinthaka Jayasinghe
5. Indika de Seram
6. Nuwan Zoysa
7. Dilhara Lokuhettige
8. Kaushal Lokuarachchi
9. Dilshan Munaweera
10. Hasantha Fernando
11. T M Samapath (W.K)
12. Gihan Rupasinghe
13. Kushal Janith (W/K)
14. Mahela Udawatta
15. Isuru Udana
16. Gayan Wijekoon
17. Jehan Mubarak
18. Tharanga Lakshitha
19. Sajeewa Weerakoon
20. Dilruwan Perera

Sri Lanka Cricket have signed a five year contract with Singapore based organization “Somerset Entertainment Ventures” to sponsor the Inter Provincial tournaments conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket. This include the Title Sponsorship of the tournaments, Team Sponsorship of the five Provincial Teams and the Champion Inter-Provincial T20 Team participating in the Champions League T20 Tournament (CLT 20).

The Inter provincial competition which is the leading tournament in the domestic calendar played in all three formats of the game with the participation of the national players.

The inter provincial tournament is staged at all test playing venues, and matches are played in Colombo, Moratuwa, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla, Kurunagela.Inter Provincial matches will also be played at our newly constructed venue at Sooriyawewa.

We take this opportunity, in welcoming our new partner “Somerset Entertainment Ventures”

Bank of Ceylon in association with Sri Lanka Cricket felicitated the winning teams and presented Bank of Ceylon Trophy for the joint Winners Basnahira North & Basnahira South and the individual awards for the best batsman, best bowler, and player of the tournament in the recently concluded Sri Lanka’s Premier four day inter provincial tournament which was sponsored by Bank of Ceylon.
The four day tournament was played over six weeks with five premier teams competing in a competitive championship at which national selectors were able to identify potential players for the national team.

Secretary SLC ‘Nishantha Ranatunga’ paid tribute to the Chairman of Bank of Ceylon for helping Sri Lanka Cricket with the sponsorship which not only enabled SLC to conduct the tournament but also opened a gateway to identify future hopefuls, which has helped SLC with an excellent bench strength. Secretary also added the competition also helped the players to prepare well for the ongoing test series. He was optimistic that success in the Indian Test series and the forthcoming West Indies series will help Sri Lanka climb the ladder in the ICC ratings. He thanked the bank profusely for their support which has helped SLC to achieve the above.

Chairman Sri Lanka Cricket D.S.De Silva together with Chairman Bank of Ceylon Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe graced the occasion. Chief executive officer of Sri Lanka Cricket, Duleep Mendis presented the award for the best batsmen to Dilshan Munaweera of Basnahira North, while former test star & Sports Facilitator of Bank of Ceylon Brendon Kuruppu Gave away the best bowler’s award to right arm leg spinner Malinga Bandara. Chairman Sri Lanka Cricket D.S.De Silva made the presentation to Janaka Gunaratne of Basnahira South, who was adjudicated as the player of the tournament.

Basnahira South and Basnahira North were declared as joint Champions.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced it is presenting cricket fans with an unique opportunity to play a part in ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 by inviting them to propose a name for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 mascot, an elephant.

Cricket fans can make their suggestions up to 27 July, 2010 with the ICC announcing the winning name of the mascot at a launch in Sri Lanka to mark ‘200 days to go’ to the first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 which will be played in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19 February 2011. The ICC Cricket World Cup final will be in Mumbai on 2 April 2011.

The mascot’s key characteristics are:

• Young, enthusiastic and determined
• Thinks cricket is the most fun game in the world
• Loves playing street cricket – would play 24/7 if he could
• Worships his cricket heroes, their technique, skill and character
• Understands there is a lot to learn, work’s hard at it, step by step
• Learning to master the art of concentration
• Dreams of playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup…one day
• Age: 10 (human years)

Suggestions should be sent to mascot@icc-cricket.com or posted/delivered to the “Tournament Director, World Cup 2011 Secretariat, No. 35, Maitland Place, Colombo 07”, along with your contact details; posted/delivered entries should reach the World Cup 2011 Secretariat on or before 12.00 noon on Tuesday, July 27, 2010.

More information about the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 mascot and his characteristics can be found here, http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=10833_1279593660

To see a short clip of the mascot in action please visit:

http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/events_and_awards/CWC/broadcast_video.php?mediaId=1210

The Hony Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket revealed that the Sri Lanka National
Team has a golden opportunity to lead the Test ranking by end of this year
by defeating India during this series and wining the West Indies Series.
This was disclosed at an Award Ceremony held at Sri Lanka Cricket head office
today, to felicitate the winners of the Provincial four day tournament.
He was thankful, to the title sponsor of Sri Lanka Cricket main tournament,
which is the Provincial tournament, sponsored by Bank of Ceylon, and
paid a special tribute to the Chairman, Bank of Ceylon, Mr. Gamini
Wickramasinghe for agreeing to assist SLC by way of sponsorship at a very
short notice. He also thanked SLC partners for their support during past year.
This would be in line with the vision of SLC, and also in preparation for the WC
2011 and most importantly to boost the morale of the National Team to be the
champs of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Media Unit SLC

Itinerary

The Under 21s limited over finals between Basnahira North Outer and Basnahira South
will be played at the Mahinda Rajapakse International cricket stadium Sooriyawewa in
Hambantota on Wednesday the 28th of July 2010.
Basnahira South led by all rounder Angelo Perera, reached the semi finals by winning
all three of their games in the preliminary round. Basnahira South was pitted
Basnahira North in the semi final. Due to weather conditions, the match was called off.
Basnahira South qualified for the finals, based on their superior net run rate which they
accumulated in the preliminary round.
Basnahira North Outer, led by all rounder Ashen Silva won three of their four games in
the preliminary round.  The only blemish for Basnahira North Outer was against Central
Province in a rain affected Preliminary game at which the Duck worth Lewis method
was used.
Basnahira North Outer have made their way to the Mahinda Rajapakse International
stadium Sooriyawewa this Wednesday for the finals after beating Western Province
South Outer in a rain affected semi final and were adjudicated winners in which  the
Duck Worth Lewis method was used.
Play will commence at 10.00 am.

Group A

Teams

M

WO

LO

FW

FL

FT

MT

NR

POINTS

Chilaw Marians CC

2

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

27.180

NCC

2

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

22.910

Bloomfield C & AC

2

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

19.345

Moors SC

2

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

14.780

BRC

2

-

1

-

1

-

-

-

5.715

Navy SC

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

3.910

Air Force SC

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

3.135

Group B

Teams

M

WO

LO

FW

FL

FT

MT

NR

POINTS

Ragama CC

2

1

-

1

-

-

-

-

26.840

Moratuwa SC

2

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

14.380

Tamil Union C & AC

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

12.390

SSC

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

11.900

Colts CC

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

6.700

Seeduwa RCC

2

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

5.745

CCC

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Selectors have approved national player contracts for twenty players and have awarded them ranging to six different categories. The rest of the player contracts will be awarded, after the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s “A” tour to Australia.

We append below details of the Six player categories & Names

Category 1

Kumar Sangakkara

Muttiah Muralitharan

Mahela Jayawardana

Thillekaratne Dilshan

Thilan Samaraweera

Category2

Nuwan Kulasekera

Category3

Angelo Mathews

Category4

Upul Tharanga

Thilan Thushara

Rangana Hearth

Prasana Jayawardana

Ajantha Mendis

Chamara Kapugedera

Lasith Malinga

Thilina Kandamby

Category 5

Dilhara Fernando

Chanaka Welegedera

Tharanga Paranavithana

Category6

Suraj Randiv

Dinesh Chandimal

The selectors will entertain the Print and Electronic media for a Q and A session on their selection policy for the forthcoming test series against India. Please note the media conference with the Sri Lanka captain and the Indian captain will follow at the Samudra ball room located in the same building after the conclusion of the selection policy press conference.

Append below details

• Venue                                    :-  “Gregory’s Room”  Taj Samudra
• Date                                        : – 12^th July 2010
• Media Registration     : -  4.00 pm
• Press Conference          :-   4.30 pm

Please note after a short tea break the media is requested to proceed to the Samudra ball room for the India, Sri Lanka press conference. All print and electronic media personnel accredited for the test series will be issued with your official accreditation cards at the registration desk, before the start of the press conference.

Sri Lankan team for the 1st Test against India to be played in Galle from  18^th to 22^nd July.

1. Kumar Sangakkara                             –              Captain
2. Muttiah  Muralidharan                    -              V Captain
3. T.M. Dilshan
4. Tharanga Paranawithana
5. Mahela Jayawardana
6. Thilan Samaraweera
7. Anjelo Mathews
8. Prasanna Jayawardena
9. Lasith Malinga
10. Rangana Herath
11. Dilhara Fernando
12. Dhammika Prasad
13. Suraj Randiv
14. Thilina Kandamby
15. Chanaka Welagedara
16. Lahiru Thirimanna

The Hon. Minister of Sports has granted approval for the following team to participate in the 3 day game against the touring Indian side.

SRI LANKA Board Presidents XI TEAM  for 3 day game   - 13^th to 15^th July

1. Thilan Samaraweera  – Captain
2. Upul Tharanga
3. Lahiru Thirimanna
4. Thilina Kandamby
5. Prasanna Jayawardane
6. Ashan Priyanjana
7. Kaushal Silva
8. Chanaka Welagedara
9. Dilhara Fernando
10. Chaminda  Vidanapathirana
11. Sachithra Senanayake
12. Ajantha Mendis
13. Nuwan Pradeep
14. Kusal Janith
15. Dinesh Chandimal

Sri Lanka Cricket extends a warm invitation to all former national cricketers who played alongside Muttiah Muralitharan during his illustrious career. They are invited to be guests of SLC during his final appearance for Sri Lanka in the test arena at the Galle International Stadium from 18^th to 22^nd July. All invitees will be accommodated in a special enclosure with meals and refreshment served during all five days. Kindly confirm your attendance by calling Rashika on 0773548047 or 0718740877.

We look forward to your presence.

Sri Lanka Cricket is pleased to invite the Print and Electronic Media personnel to the Press Conference which will be held regarding the retirement of Muttiah Muralidaran.

Details of the Press Conference are as follows:-

• Venue                                      :-   “Gregory’s Room”  Taj Samudra
• Date                                         : -  08^th July 2010
• Media Registration     : -  5.30 pm
• Press Conference         :-   6.00 pm