ICC World Twenty20 2012 tickets launched in Colombo

Colombo: ICC Chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Saturday formally launched the sale of tickets for the ICC World Twenty20 2012, scheduled to be held between September 18-October 7.

The men`s tournament will be played at the same three grounds -- Hambantota, Pallekelle and Premadasa in Colombo, which successfully staged the group and knock out matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. A spectacular launch was watched by thousands tonight and was a fitting start for the first ICC World Twenty20 tournament that Asia will host. "This is the first ICC World Twenty20 tournament to be held in Asia and follows the previous three successful editions staged in South Africa (2007), England (2009) and the Caribbean (2010). Those events have shown the enormous passion and excitement for nation versus nation cricket and I know that this ICC WT20 tournament in Sri Lanka will be no exception," Lorgat was quoted as saying by an ICC press release. Sri Lanka vice-captain Angelo Mathews and Sri Lankan women`s player Shashikala Siriwardena also attended the festivities and conducted the draw in which 800 tickets were won by lucky fans. Mathews said: "It is wonderful to have the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. It shows that the ICC has placed its faith in us. I want to welcome all cricket fans to enjoy the cricket and of course the hospitality of Sri Lanka." PTI