The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Ponting and Attapattu's novel gesture

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 25, 2005

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Ponting and Attapattu's novel gesture

London: In a novel gesture, Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu have offered their support to the teams competing in the ICC Trophy 2005 in Ireland from July 1 to 13.

Ricky Ponting currently in England with the Australian team sent a personal message to the participating players, saying, ``I am aware of the importance of the ICC Trophy to the 12 countries taking part and I wish all of them good cricket and good fortune.''

``I am conscious of how much is at stake during the tournament — not only places in the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in 2007, but also how success will boost the sport in the respective countries.''

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu, whose nation won the inaugural ICC Trophy 26 years ago, is aware how important the event is for developing cricket nations.

``In Sri Lanka we have a particular regard for the ICC Trophy since we won the inaugural tournament back in 1979,'' an International Cricket Council (ICC) release quoted Atapattu as saying.

``It was a real stepping-stone for Sri Lankan cricket. We went on to play our first Test match just three years later and less than 15 years after that we won the biggest one-day trophy of all, the ICC Cricket World Cup.

"So it is without hesitation that I wish all 12 countries well during the tournament in Ireland and, shall be following the event eagerly to see which five win through to the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in 2007,'' the Sri Lankan added.

Two of the teams that qualify from the ICC Trophy 2005 will be in Australia's group in the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007.

Sri Lanka will face one ICC Trophy team in the first round. — UNI

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