Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium,[1] also known as Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium (Sinhala: මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ක්‍රිකට් ක්‍රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ சர்வதேச துடுப்பாட்டு அரங்கம்), and abbreviately as MRIC Stadium, is an international cricket stadium in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. It was built for the 2011 Cricket World Cup and hosted two matches, the first being Sri Lanka against Canada, on 20 February 2011. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 people making It the second largest stadium in Sri Lanka.

Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium.
Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium
Hambantota
Ground information
LocationSooriyawewa, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°21′14.5″N 81°1′36.5″E
Establishment2009
Capacity35,000
OwnerSri Lanka Cricket
OperatorSri Lanka Cricket
TenantsSri Lanka Cricket
End names
Thanamalwila End
Sooriyawewa End
International information
First ODI20 February 2011:
 Sri Lanka v  Canada
Last ODI24 August 2023:
 Afghanistan v  Pakistan
First T20I1 June 2012:
 Sri Lanka v  Pakistan
Last T20I6 August 2013:
 Sri Lanka v  South Africa
First WODI16 March 2019:
 Sri Lanka v  England
Last WODI18 March 2019:
 Sri Lanka v  England
As of 24 August 2023
Source: ESPNCricinfo
CricketArchive

History

The proposal for a new International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa was part of the government's programme to develop sports in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka as part of the government's plan to transform Hambantota into the second major urban hub of Sri Lanka, away from Colombo.[2]

The following 2011 Cricket World Cup matches were held at Hambantota International Cricket Stadium in February 2011. The first official international match was between Sri Lanka and Canada on 20 February 2011, which Sri Lanka won by 210 runs. Two matches were played at the venue during the World Cup.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted three 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches and the inaugural edition of Lanka Premier League in 2020.[3] The curator of the ground is Ravi Dissanayake and Manager is Colonel Shanaka Ratnayake.

Criticism

With low coverage of international matches in very rural areas, it has come under extreme criticism and has been called a white elephant as only a few matches were held in the stadium considering the extreme costs for construction and maintenance.[4][5] The ministers of opposition criticize that former government has hidden the true story of actual cost for its construction.[6] To gain revenue the Stadium is often hired out for wedding receptions, however, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed that the stadium should be used for training purposes to gain revenue.[7]

In 2016, after the inspections by Sri Lanka Cricket, president Thilanga Sumathipala pointed out that the walls, carpets, furniture and equipment in the stadium were in a severe state of neglect and deterioration without any attempt to revive the facility to its earlier status.[8]

Lanka Premier League

Initially, 2020 Lanka Premier League was scheduled to be held in Kandy, Dambulla and Hambantota. Due to COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, health officials agreed to reduce the quarantine period for foreign players from 14 days to 7 days.[9][10] Following the urge from health officials, all 23 matches would be held in Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.[11][12] In 2021 venue hosted 2021 Lanka Premier League Playoffs matches as well.

World Cup Cricket

In 2011, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted two World Cup matches.

2011 Cricket World Cup
Main article: 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup
20 February 2011 (D/N)
Scorecard
Sri Lanka 
332/7 (50 overs)
v
 Canada
122 (36.5 overs)
Mahela Jayawardene 100 (81)
John Davison 2/56 (8 overs)
Rizwan Cheema 37 (35)
Nuwan Kulasekara 3/16 (6 overs)
 Sri Lanka won by 210 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Ian Gould and Shavir Tarapore
Player of the match: Mahela Jayawardene (SL)
  • Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.
23 February 2011 (D/N)
Scorecard
Pakistan 
317/7 (50 overs)
v
 Kenya
112 (33.1 overs)
Umar Akmal 71 (52)
Thomas Odoyo 3/41 (7 overs)
Collins Obuya 47 (58)
Shahid Afridi 5/16 (8 overs)
 Pakistan won by 205 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Tony Hill and Nigel Llong
Player of the match: Umar Akmal (Pak)
  • Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

ICC World Twenty20

Sri Lanka hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. Three matches were played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. Other matches were played at R. Premadasa Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

2012 ICC World Twenty20
Main article: 2012 ICC World Twenty20
18 September 2012 (D/N)
Scorecard
Sri Lanka 
182/4 (20 Overs)
v
 Zimbabwe
100 (17.3 Overs)
Kumar Sangakkara 44(26)
Graeme Cremer 1/27 (4 Overs)
Hamilton Masakadza 20 (23)
Ajantha Mendis 6/8 (4 Overs)
 Sri Lanka won by 82 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Ian Gould and Rod Tucker
Player of the match: Ajantha Mendis (SL)
  • Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first.
20 September 2012 (D/N)
Scorecard
Zimbabwe 
93/8 (20 overs)
v
 South Africa
94/0 (12.4 overs)
Craig Ervine 37 (40)
Jacques Kallis 4/15 (4 overs)
Richard Levi 50* (43)
 South Africa won by 10 wickets
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Steve Davis and Richard Kettleborough
Player of the match: Jacques Kallis (SA)
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to field
22 September 2012 (D/N)
Scorecard
South Africa 
78/4 (7 overs)
v
 Sri Lanka
46/5 (7 overs)
AB de Villiers 30 (13)
Nuwan Kulasekara 1/9 (1 over)
Kumar Sangakkara 13 (11)
Dale Steyn 2/10 (2 overs)
 South Africa won by 32 runs
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (Eng) and Rod Tucker (Aus)
Player of the match: AB de Villiers (SA)
  • Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field

International five-wicket hauls
As of 1 September 2019

Three five-wicket hauls have been taken at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, all in men's limited-overs international matches.

One Day International five-wicket hauls
Five-wicket hauls in Men's One Day International matches at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium
No. Bowler Date Team Opposing Team Inn O R W Result
1Shahid Afridi23 February 2011[lower-alpha 1] Pakistan Kenya28165Pakistan won[13]
2Lasith Malinga16 August 2011 Sri Lanka Australia28.2285Sri Lanka won[14]
3Haris Rauf22 August 2023 Pakistan Afghanistan26.2185Pakistan won

Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls
Five-wicket hauls in Men's Twenty20 International matches at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium
No. Bowler Date Team Opposing Team Inn O R W Result
1Ajantha Mendis18 September 2012[lower-alpha 2] Sri Lanka Zimbabwe2486Sri Lanka won[15]

See also

Notes
  1. This match was part of the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
  2. This match was part of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.

References
  1. "Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium | Sri Lanka | Cricket Grounds | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  2. Fernando, Andrew Fidel (5 April 2013). "SLC expects financial assistance from government". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  3. "England to start ICC World Twenty20 title defence against qualifier". Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  4. "Hambantota White Projects Eat Up Economy | The Sunday Leader". Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  5. "Ravi K. says Govt. can't pay back Sooriyawewa stadium loans". The Daily FT. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. "Ravi K Says Actual Cost Of Hambantota Cricket Stadium Is Rs. 852 Million, And Not Rs. 4.5 Billion As Claimed By Rajapaksa". The Daily FT. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. "Wedding receptions at Sooriyawewa Stadium: Dayasiri". Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  8. "Attempts To Revive Another 'White Elephant'". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. "Lankan Premier League: SLC meets with health authorities; more confident of league going ahead". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  10. "Lankan health ministry likely to give 'conditional approval' for LPL". BDCricTime. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  11. Gaurav Gupta (13 October 2020). "Pallekele, Hambantota to host all Lanka Premier League games | Cricket News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  12. "Pallekele, Hambantota To Host All Lanka Premier League Matches | Cricket News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  13. 6th Match, Hambantota, Feb 23 2011, Group A (D/N), ICC Cricket World Cup, CricInfo. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  14. 3rd ODI (D/N), Hambantota, Aug 16 2011, Australia tour of Sri Lanka, CricInfo. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  15. 1st Match, Hambantota, Sep 18 2012, Group C (N), ICC World Twenty20, CricInfo. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
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