Sri Lanka hosts Architects’ Asia Cup (T20) 2018

As an effort to strengthen the interrelationship between Architects in the region through cricket, the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Sports Committee is hosting ‘Architects’ Asia Cup Cricket Tournament 2018 (T20) between 16 and 20 February.

This is the first time that such an international cricket tournament is organised in Sri Lanka, where three major cricket-playing countries in the region, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India will be taking part. 

Preliminary round matches will be played at Tyrone Fernando Cricket Stadium, and the finals will be played at Colts Cricket Club Grounds, Colombo. Each team will play two matches with other two teams and the best two teams will compete in the finals. 

Opening ceremony was held on 16 February at the Tyrone Fernando Grounds. The chief guest was former Sri Lanka Test vice-Captain and left arm bowler with the highest number of Test wickets, Rangana Herath. The guest of honour was eminent architect, Archt. Mano Ponniah, who has also represented Sri Lanka in cricket (Ceylon) and played first-class cricket both in Sri Lanka and in England, from 1964 to 1969.

Closing and Awardsceremony will be held on 20February at Colts Cricket Ground.  The Chief Guest will be former Sri Lankan Captain Aravinda De Silva. Several other cricketers from the 1996 World Cup-winning team and the 2014 T20 World Cup-winning team will be participating as guests. Other guests of honour include: ARCASIAPresident Archt. Jahangir Khan,American Institute of ArchitectsPresident Archt. Thomas Vonier, and Indian Institute of ArchitectsArcht. Divya Kush, will be present. 

The Sri Lanka teamwill be captained by Archt. Manoj Champika (opening batsman and left arm spinner) with all-rounder Archt. Sulochana Amunugama as vice-captain. Coached by Sanjaya Wijesinghe, the Sri Lankan team toured India in 2011 and Pakistan in 2015. The Pakistan team will be captained by Archt. Ramiz Baig. They have toured Sri Lanka in 2014 - 6 of those playersare included in the squad this time as well. The India team is captained by Archt. Jitendra Mehta and Archt. Ayush Bhardwaj will be vice-captain.  This is the first time an Indian Architects cricket team is touring Sri Lanka.