The Cricket Live Foundation along with the Merrill J Fernando Charitable Foundation is hosting the New Zealand Minister Nathan Guy and former New Zealand captain and cricketing great Stephen Fleming, here in the Pearl Island promoting the cricket World Cup and celebrating 100 days to the Cricket World cup.
Minister Guy is leading a six-day trade mission to Sri Lanka and India this week, accompanied by representatives from the New Zealand business community. New Zealand currently exports $288m to Sri Lanka and is a world-class destination for holiday-makers and students.
“I am pleased to be bringing a New Zealand delegation that will be investigating areas where our companies can do more together. New Zealand has strengths in the primary industries, and Anchor is well known in Sri Lanka. We also have education, training and tourism interests that we will be advancing.
“On the cricket pitch we are fierce competitors, but our trade and business links with Sri Lanka are stronger than ever,” says Mr Guy.
Fleming and Guy also participated in a coaching session at the De Zoysa Stadium for the budding young cricketers from the Moratuwa area, who are mentored by the Cricket Live Foundation.
“My connection with Sri Lanka is strong, had some wonderful memories here. It would have been lot better if Muralitharan never played.” Fleming whose highest test match score of 274 not out against Sri Lanka mentioned.
“It is a wonderful country. Similar to New Zealand where the people are warm and receptive when we come on tour and there is a lot of synergy between the two countries going forward.” Fleming stated further.
The first match of the World Cup will be held at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on the 14th of February. The Hagley Oval will become the eighth Test venue in New Zealand when it hosts Sri Lanka for the Boxing Day test match. It will mark New Zealand’s first game in Christchurch since the city was hit by a deadly earthquake in 2011. Christchurch was devastated by the earthquake much like the tsunami did to Sri Lanka.
“Christchurch has the opportunity to showcase a new city, a city which has been re-built for the future and it is great honour to a city which has rich cricket history to have been given the first match of the 2015 World Cup,”said the Christchurch born and bred Fleming. He further mentioned that playing the first match against Sri Lanka would be a tactical advantage in them not meeting again in another semi final.
Fleming had some wise words for the young cricketers on technique at the Cricket Live Foundation and recalled his first memory of Malinga, still not in the Sri Lanka team who used to terrorize them with his searing yorkers in net sessions and was banned from bowling at them due to possible injuries.
Cricket Live Foundation is the brain child of Alex Reese whose early experience in India planted the seed for this wonderful initiative. It is an organization operated in partnership with the Merrill J. Charitable Foundation. Sir Richard Hadlee, Patron of the Cricket Live Foundation is also involved in the initiative which aims to provide disadvantaged children an opportunity to learn life skills through cricket.
“Our kids have really enjoyed a private coaching session with Stephen Fleming and appreciate the support of the New Zealand Government for what we and our supporters are doing in Sri Lanka.” Alex Reese mentioned.
“Currently we have three Cricket Live Education centers in Sri Lanka and we are extremely privileged to work with the MJF Foundation. Coaches and teaches from New Zealand are responsible for educating the large pool of local Sri Lankan coaches, who in turn , are responsible for running our initiative.” Reese further added.
