Ground information | |
---|---|
Location | Mallakam, Jaffna District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka |
Establishment | 14 March 2021 |
Owner | Jaffna Cricket Association |
Tenants | TBD after 2022 (Sri Lanka national cricket team Inter-Provincial Limited Over Tournament Inter-Provincial Twenty20) |
International information | |
As of 20 March 2021 |
Mallakam Sri Baskaran Cricket Ground, Jaffna also known as Mallakam Cricket Ground, (Sinhala: මල්ලකම් ශ්රී බාස්කරන් ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාංගණය, Tamil: மல்லகம் ஸ்ரீ பாஸ்கரன் கிரிக்கெட் மைதானம்) is a cricket stadium in Mallakam, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. The ground was named after late philanthropist Sri Baskaran as a tribute for donating the land which was used to construct the cricket ground.[1] The cricket ground is currently owned and managed by the Jaffna Cricket Association.[2]
The ground was built under the initiative Cricket Gamata program which was launched by the Sri Lanka Cricket. It was revealed that renowned philanthropist Sri Baskaran donated his land on a 60-year lease agreement for the purpose of using it as a cricket ground.[3] The cricket ground was officially declared open on 14 March 2021 with the motive of developing interest in cricket among the youth in the Jaffna peninsula.[4]
The first phase of the ground development which was unveiled includes a matting wicket, two side practice wickets, an office room and player changing room.[5] The cricket ground is set to be developed as a fully fledged cricket ground by the end of 2022 as a part of the 3 phase development program.[6] The full-fledged cricket stadium is set to be established for the purpose of domestic cricket in Jaffna with a turf wicket at a cost ranging from 20 million to 25 million.[7]
In July 2020, Sri Lanka Cricket Board announced Mallakam as one of their targets to develop and revive interest in cricket in rural areas.[8] The Sri Lanka Army personnel also contributed for the construction of the ground.[9]
On 14 March 2021, an exhibition T20 cricket match was also contested between two intra Jaffna based teams during the inauguration ceremony.
References
[edit]- ^ "SLC opens a new Cricket Ground in Mallakam". news.lk. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Admin (19 March 2021). "SLC opens a new Cricket Ground in Mallakam". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "SLC opens a new Cricket ground in Mallakam". NewsWire. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "SLC opens a new Cricket Ground in Mallakam". Sri Lanka Cricket. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "SLC opens a new Cricket Ground in Mallakam". CeylonToday. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "SLC opens a new cricket ground in Mallakam, Jaffna | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Sri Lanka Cricket to build a domestic Cricket ground in Jaffna". NewsWire. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "SLC to develop outstation cricket grounds". Daily News. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Army Machinery & Troops Construct New Cricket Ground in Mallakam | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 20 March 2021.