Top contenders emerge for CEAT Peoples Player of 2012 award

Two dynamic young players, one of them an exciting all-rounder in the abbreviated game, had joined three senior players in the Top 5 of the CEAT Peoples Player of 2012 competition as voting entered its final week.

By the evening of Monday, 27 August, public voting via SMS and on-line had identified in random  order, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera as the leading contenders for this coveted accolade, presented annually by Sri Lanka’s leading tyre manufacturer CEAT Kelani Holdings.

One of these players had built up a strong lead over the rest of the field, securing a mammoth 61 per cent of the votes cast, organisers of the competition said.

Voting ends at midnight on Saturday, 1 September, and the award will be presented at the 2012 CEAT Sri Lanka Cricket Awards at Waters Edge on Wednesday, 5 September.

The 60 players on contract with Sri Lanka Cricket were eligible to receive votes for this year’s CEAT Peoples Player award. Mobile phone users who wish to help their favourites win the award may vote via SMS on five mobile networks – Dialog, Etisalat, Mobitel, Hutch and Airtel – and the CDMA services of Lanka Bell, Suntel and SLT City Link by typing CEAT (space) Name of the Cricketer and sending to 6797.

For voting via Internet, a dedicated website www.ceatsrilankacricketawards.com and a page on facebook www.facebook.com/ceatsrilankacricketawards have been created by CEAT Kelani Holdings.

“We are pleased to see the continuing public enthusiasm for this competition,” said Ravi Dadlani, Vice President Sales & Marketing at CEAT Kelani Holdings. “As Sri Lanka’s single most popular tyre brand, CEAT understands the value of popularity and public approbation, and this award is a tribute to players who have won a place in the hearts of the people.”

CEAT has been present in Sri Lanka since 1992 as an international tyre brand with manufacturing facilities in Kalutara and Kelaniya. The country’s market leader in the commercial tyre segment and the highest-selling brand in the radial tyre market, CEAT supported the revival of the Sri Lanka Cricket Awards in 2009.  Besides cricket CEAT also actively supports motor racing in Sri Lanka.