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Elephant Lemonade, who concluded their partnership with the Sri Lanka School Cricket Association conducted Premier Inter School Cricket Tournament (Under-19) early this year, entered into a new partnership with Masscom, the rights holders of School Cricket tournaments and SLSCA to promote the on-going Inter School Under-17 tournament. This was announced at a press conference attended by SLSCA officials and representatives of Masscom on Monday.
Lemonade, which associated with the SLSCA premier tournament, the Under-19 tournament, for over a decade ended its partnership early this year. And when it announced its new association with a lower tournament, its head S. Srikanth said it was all about sponsoring cricket and not about kudos. "Our focus is on helping cricketers. We thought this age group tournament needs our support," Srikanth said.
Highlighting the need to promote cricket, he said that the age group didn’t matter when deciding the age category of the tournament. However, a sentimental thanksgiving by Srikanth to the SLSCA officials meant that it was not the amount of cash that has secured the deal, but the long standing partnership that the company has had with the SLSCA.
Lemonade, with its partnership with the SLSCA, has created several title combinations which are embedded in the hearts and minds of the cricketing fraternity. And such titles will now be available in the Under-17 tournament as the organizers are looking at selecting the Most Popular Cricketer of the Under-17 tournament.
It was announced that over 5000 junior cricketers are to part in this tournament which has now reached the last phase of the second round. The SLSCA is considering the possibility of broadcasting live, the matches towards the latter part of the knockout stage and a live telecast of the final.
The quarter finals of the three Divisions will be played with the white ball and players clad in coloured clothing. The power plays and the field restrictions and the 30 yard circle and the rules governing ODI matches will be in place during the knockout stage.
The press conference was also attended by several captains of Under-17 teams from Colombo and the suburbs. And popular tele-drama actress Oshadi Hewamadduma, who has been selected as a tournament promoter, also was glimpsed at the occasion.
