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| Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium |
| Location | Pallekele, Kandy District, Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| Opened | 2009 |
| Capacity | 35,000 |
| Owner | Sri Lanka Cricket |
| Surface | Grass |
| Tenants | Sri Lanka national cricket team |
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is a major international cricket venue in Sri Lanka that hosts matches for the Sri Lanka national cricket team, Indian cricket team, Pakistan national cricket team, England cricket team and visiting Australia national cricket team sides. The stadium has staged fixtures in global events such as the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World Twenty20, and Asia Cup. It sits within the sporting and cultural landscape alongside venues like Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Galle International Stadium, R Premadasa Stadium and Bambalapitiya facilities.
The ground was constructed as part of preparations for the 2011 Cricket World Cup and was inaugurated in 2009, joining other host venues including Colombo and Galle. Development involved collaboration among the Ministry of Sports (Sri Lanka), Sri Lanka Cricket, and contractors linked to projects in Kandy District and Central Province, Sri Lanka. Early international fixtures featured touring sides such as England cricket team, New Zealand national cricket team, and West Indies cricket team. The venue gained prominence during the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 and hosted matches involving Pakistan national cricket team, South Africa national cricket team, and Bangladesh national cricket team.
Situated in Pallekele, near the city of Kandy, the stadium lies close to landmarks such as the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Temple of the Tooth, and transport hubs serving Central Province, Sri Lanka. Facilities include spectator stands with a capacity around 35,000, player pavilions comparable to those at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground and Galle International Stadium, media centres used by outlets covering tours by England cricket team and India national cricket team, practice nets frequented by Sri Lanka national cricket team squads, and corporate boxes similar to those at R Premadasa Stadium. The ground is owned and operated by Sri Lanka Cricket and has hosted domestic competitions involving clubs like Kandy Cricket Club and provincial sides from Premier Trophy tournaments.
The pitch at the ground has offered a balanced contest for batsmen and bowlers, drawing comparisons with surfaces used in Galle International Stadium and R Premadasa Stadium. Spinners from Sri Lanka national cricket team such as Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis have found assistance, while fast bowlers from Australia national cricket team and England cricket team have succeeded under helpful seam conditions early in matches. Dew and humidity influenced by the nearby Mahaweli River and Knuckles Mountain Range affect day–night match strategies, and groundsmen have prepared wickets for tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup and Asia Cup.
The venue hosted matches during the 2011 Cricket World Cup and was a selected ground for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. Notable international fixtures have included bilateral series featuring India national cricket team vs Sri Lanka national cricket team, Australia national cricket team tours, and encounters with Pakistan national cricket team and England cricket team. It was the site of key qualifiers and playoff matches for ICC events and staged fixtures in domestic competitions such as the Premier Limited Overs Tournament and Super Four Provincial Tournament. High-profile matches attracted international broadcasters covering tours by New Zealand national cricket team and West Indies cricket team.
Career and match records at the ground include centuries by batsmen from Sri Lanka national cricket team, India national cricket team, and England cricket team, and five-wicket hauls by bowlers representing Pakistan national cricket team and Australia national cricket team. Team totals comparable to those at R Premadasa Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club Ground have been recorded, while wicket partnerships reflect the influence of pitch and weather similar to Galle International Stadium. Players such as Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, and Shane Watson feature in scorecards at Pallekele-era fixtures.
Beyond international and domestic cricket, the venue has accommodated events aligning with regional activities near Kandy and Peradeniya, including cultural gatherings, ceremonies connected to Sri Lankan Armed Forces commemorations, and community initiatives by organisations akin to Ministry of Sports (Sri Lanka). Corporate events and sponsored promotions by companies operating in Sri Lanka have also used the stadium's conference and hospitality facilities.
Access to the stadium is provided via road links from Kandy Railway Station and highways connecting to Colombo, with routes similar to those used for access to Peradeniya Botanical Garden and Knuckles Mountain Range excursions. Public transport options include buses serving Kandy and private coach services used by touring teams such as Australia national cricket team and England cricket team, while nearby airports like Bandaranaike International Airport and regional airfields facilitate international arrivals.
Plans debated by stakeholders including Sri Lanka Cricket and provincial authorities envisage upgrades to seating, floodlighting comparable to standards at R Premadasa Stadium, enhancements to media centres used by broadcasters covering ICC events, and improvements to practice facilities for squads like Sri Lanka national cricket team and visiting India national cricket team sides. Proposals have referenced infrastructure models from venues such as Galle International Stadium and Sinhalese Sports Club Ground to meet requirements for future ICC Cricket World Cup and Asia Cup bids.
Category:Cricket grounds in Sri Lanka