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Published 08 Dec, 2013 08:20am

SLC to push for relocation of ICC headquarters to Colombo

MUMBAI, Dec 7: The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board is all set to propose to the ICC to relocate its office from Dubai to Colombo.

This was revealed by three top officials including the president Jayantha Dharmadasa, the Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and the CEO Ashley de Silva of the SLC.

Speaking over their mobile phones from Colombo, they said: “Yes, we are interested. The discussion for relocation of the ICC head quarter took place in the last ICC board meeting and we have shown interest.”

The last board meeting took place before the Expo 20-20 was awarded to Dubai. It is to be seen whether few would still want the ICC base to be shifted from Dubai.

“It is going to be the final decision of the ICC board and if it comes to our country, the credit will not only go to the SLC, but the president, the army , the ministries and the people,” Ranatunga added.

“The next ICC board meeting is scheduled in January in Dubai and more will be discussed,” he added.

In order to protect the game’s revenues, the office was brought to Dubai from London in 2005. This move of shifting the offices to Dubai was made after an 11-1 vote by the ICC’s Executive Board in favour with England and Wales Cricket (ECB) likely to have had opposed the move.

Several people in the ICC believe that the world cricket governing body’s head quarter should be in a Test playing nation. However, Singapore, one of the non-Test playing nations, is also likely to bid for it.

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