da bet nacional： The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday in Cape Townthat Sri Lanka would host the ICC Champions Trophy in September
CricInfo18-Mar-2002The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday in Cape Townthat Sri Lanka would host the ICC Champions Trophy in September.Sri Lanka had been favourites to host the 12-team knockout tournament, whichis designed to raised funds for global cricket development, after India wereforced to decline an invitation to host the tournament.”The ICC is delighted that the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka hasagreed to act as host country for this major event,” said its ChiefExecutive Officer Malcolm Speed. “We look forward to working closely withthe Board in staging one of world cricket’s most entertaining and highprofile tournaments,” he added.The ICC set certain conditions for hosting nations, one of which is that allprofits accrued in the country must be accorded tax-free status, which India’s government refused to grant. However, the ICC was happy with the taxsituation in Sri Lanka after advice from their local tax consultants.Vijaya Malalsekera, the chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in SriLanka (BCCSL), believed the news was a triumph for the country and hopesthat the countries ailing tourist industry will now receive a much-neededboost.Speaking from South Africa, where he has been attending the ICC’s executiveboard meeting, he said: “We are delighted to be hosting the event as it willdo wonders for the tourist industry and the economy in general through themultiplier effect.”The ICC consulted their own accountants on the tax implications andotherwise they appeared entirely satisfied with the way the discussions hadproceeded.”Formerly called the ICC Knock Out Trophy, the biennual tournament has beenrestructured since last being played at Nairobi in October 2000, when it wasrun on a purely knockout basis, with New Zealand defeating India in thefinal.This time there will be four groups of three, with the group leadersproceeding through to semi-final stage, meaning a daunting schedule of 15matches in just 18 days.Two grounds will be used in Colombo, Premadasa International Stadium and theSinhalese Sports Club, with all the games at the former being day-nightencounters.