Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, also known as Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium, is one of the newest cricket stadiums in Sri Lanka and the newest in the city of Kandy. The stadium has been renamed as the Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium. In July 2010, The Central Provincial Council in Kandy unanimously made the renaming decision to honour the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, an Anthonian and Kandy native.The stadium was declared opened on 27 November 2009. Muttiah Muralitharan International Cricket Stadium became the 104th Test venue in the world in December 2010. The first Test was played between Sri Lanka and the West Indies from 1–5 December. The stadium is Sri Lanka's eighth Test venue. It is notable that the venue does not feature Muralitharan's name on signage.Location and backgroundThe stadium is located about a half-hour drive from Kandy. The Pallekele stadium is wholly owned by Sri Lanka Cricket and is set to displace the Asgiriya Stadium, which has hosted Tests from 1983 to 2007, as the international venue of choice around Kandy. The stadium was built by the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka along the lines of SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa.Ground statisticsFacts about the Pallekele Cricket Stadium: Length of the stadium: 164 meters Width of the stadium: 150 meters Height of the stadium: 0.75 meters Curator Asitha Wijayasinghe Length of the pitch: 90 feet Width of the pitch: 100 feet Outfield of the ground would be covered with Australian synodon dactylon grass Infield of the ground would be covered with Blue grass
