Friday, 6 February 2015 00:40
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The Government yesterday announced a million dollar bonus for the national cricket team if they won the ICC World Cup, which kicks off in New Zealand and Australia next week.
“We have decided to offer this money to be shared among the team as an incentive for them to bring home the World Cup,” Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said. Sri Lanka has been drawn in Pool A alongside the two co-hosts, England, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Scotland.
Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga who has since entered politics and is the current Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.
Members of the 1996 squad were rewarded with duty-free cars, free houses and land in addition to huge cash awards that poured in from private companies.
Sri Lanka lost two World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011 to Australia and India respectively.
