Emirates hosts Murali Cup winning teams at World T20 match

Emirates, the international airline which serves Sri Lanka with 28 weekly flights, provided an unforgettable experience for 22 aspiring cricketers by hosting them at the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20.

Emirates, an official partner of the ICC, invited the winning teams from the recent Murali Cup, a tournament also supported by Emirates which was dedicated to promoting peace and understanding in Sri Lanka by bringing together talented youth from across the island.

The players from St. Peter’s College Under-19s and Sri Lanka Army’s Under-23 ladies team enjoyed a day out at the matches contested by Sri Lanka and Pakistan and Australia and West Indies respectively. The event was particularly memorable for the two players of the tournament, who had the honour of being presented with an autographed bat pitch-side at the R. Premadasa Stadium just minutes before the toss.

“This was one of the most incredible moments in my cricketing career and I am grateful to Emirates for making it happen,” said Jason Buultjens of St. Peter’s College, the top performer in the boys’ event. “Playing cricket in the north of Sri Lanka was also an experience I will never forget, and the support of sponsors like Emirates for the Murali Cup is deeply appreciated.”

“The 2012 Murali Cup tournament’s objective of fostering peace and understanding was achieved due to the efforts of many,” said Rosheni Perera, the captain of Sri Lanka Army’s Under-23 ladies team. “The support of sponsors of the calibre of Emirates has helped raise the profile of this tournament and spark wider interest in Sri Lanka’s sporting talent at the grassroots level.”

Emirates is also sponsoring the travel to Singapore of a unity team comprising of the best players among the boys’ teams that competed in the Murali Harmony Cup to play two exhibition matches against the Singapore Cricket Club. The unity team will be accompanied by Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara, while spin icon Muttiah Muralitharan will join them in Singapore.

“Emirates is committed to the growth of the cricket – at both a global and grassroots level – so it is with immense pride that we were able extend our invitation to these young cricketers to watch an ICC World Twenty20 match live,” said Chandana De Silva, Emirates’ Area Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives and a former pupil of St. Peter’s College.

“Their passion for cricket was great to see at the Murali Cup and it is a real pleasure for us to be hosting Sri Lanka’s next generation of cricketers.”