The West Indies tour of Sri Lanka is expected to be a loss. Carlton Bernadus, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) operations manager, has estimated the loss to be in the vicinty of approximately $4.5 million.
With television rights being the biggest earner, the West Indies no longer attract top dollar and hence the SLC will have to absorb a loss. However, under the new arrangement at the International Cricket Council (ICC), SLC can make a claim to the Test Fund set up recently.
According to Bernadus: “Having this tour take place here is a colossal loss. You see the main source of income for these tours come from the broadcasting rights. In terms of this, there are teams that bring you good money, then there are teams that bring you lesser amounts. With a series consisting of two Test matches, three ODIs and two T20s, we will spend about 200 million Sri Lankan rupee. We might be able to recover about half of this, so the loss is in the range of 100 million rupees.”
Bernadus explained that the SLC allowed fans to attend the matches free of charge to see the Galle Test despite the overall loss. “For the Galle Test we don’t change anything because we want people from the out-station, that is outside Colombo to come and watch cricket. We want them to come and see elite cricketers in action. The loss we would suffer from the gates for that Test is is very minimal it is about R3million (US$20,000) or R4 million (US$28,000) and when you consider what you have to put in place when you charge, it is better to just let them come in.”
The second Test will take place from Wednesday and even for this match, the SLC is sparing no cost in making it a memorable affair. “Going into the second Test we are inviting 1000 school boys and we will give them an autograph card of both captains (Sobers and Tissera), so they have something special to keep from the occasion. We are very grateful to have Sobers come over to witness the match and to be there at the end to present the trophy.”
Sobers will arrive in Sri Lanka today, to view the match.
He was invited by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for the event. Bernadus said his board was happy to welcome Sobers, who played a part in the development of Sri Lanka’s cricket by coaching their senior team. “We are very happy that we could host Sir Gary in Sri Lanka again. He is a man of the highest standard and a real gentleman. He has not only done a lot for West Indies and world cricket but also Sri Lanka cricket.”
Bernadus was also high in praise of Michael Tissera, who captained Ceylon in early days but never played Test cricket for Sri Lanka. “Tissera was not only an astute captain but also great administrator of the sport in this country. We are happy to have his name associated with this Test series.”
SLC has plans to honour both men: “We are having a commemorative coin done for the Test. The coin will be used at the toss, and we will have Sobers on one side and Tissera on the other. What would make the event even more unique is that the captains cannot call heads or tails at the toss but they would have to call either Sobers or Tissera.