Singapore is seeking a prominent place on the map of international cricket, initially as a neutral venue for matches featuring established teams.
The first of the many steps on this cricket trail will be taken when a local Twenty20 tournament is held here on Saturday, according to Singapore Indian Association President K. Kesavapany.
T20 tournament
The two-day tournament, based on the Indian Premier League pattern, would bring together teams comprising not only Singaporeans but also some Indian expatriates and overseas players.
India’s High Commissioner to Singapore, T.C.A. Raghavan will inaugurate the tournament while Sunil Gavaskar is expected to be present, said Kesavapany.
Many possibilities
Tracing a three-dimensional ‘vision’ of cricketing possibilities here, Kesavapany said: “Singapore is ideally positioned, in geographical terms, to play a central role in fostering cricket at the international level.
“Firstly, Singapore will encourage [established] teams [when they are] going to and from Australia-New Zealand and the South Asian sub-continent to stop over here for games.
“Secondly, the large influx of non-resident Indians [in recent years] has created a base for cricket to be a mainstream game in Singapore itself.
“Thirdly, I envisage cricket to play the role that Formula One has played in profiling Singapore as a tourist and sporting destination.”
Stadium suggested
To ‘underscore’ Singapore’s bid for hosting international cricket matches, he proposed a multi-purpose stadium, at a new Sports Hub here, to be designed in such a way that Test-level teams can play there.
