Published: Jul 14, 2014, 10:27 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 14, 2014, 10:29 PM (IST)
Galle: Jul 14, 2014
In an unprecedented move, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) authorities have decided to allow spectators to watch the 1st test between Sri Lanka and South Africa in the public viewing area at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday. The decision, which would come as a delight to many, comes at a time the board is going through financial instability, both in terms of revenue losses as well as salary disputes between the board and the players.
Introducing such a move in such times is expected to lead the board to further losses, which could seriously jeopardize its functioning and could also affect the team’s performances. The salary dispute between the players and the board, which sparked off when the board decided to scrap the payment of 25 per cent of its earnings to the cricketers, is yet to come to a consensus.
On a positive note, this move has been introduced with an intention to revive an interest in the longest format of the game. Most tests witness near-empty stands, which cause losses to the board among several others. As such, higher turnouts in the future would definitely be a boost to both the authorities and test cricket in general.
