ICC Media Release

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Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu have offered their support to the teams competing in the ICC Trophy 2005 in Ireland from 1 to 13 July.

Ricky Ponting currently in England with the Australia team sent a personal message to the participating players.

ãI am aware of the importance of the ICC Trophy to the 12 countries taking part and I wish all of them good cricket and good fortune. Iâve had the pleasure of playing for Australia on two occasions in Northern Ireland- in 2001 in Belfast and four years earlier at Eglinton which will be hosting one of the ICC Trophy games. My experience has been of pleasant, hospitable times and Iâm confident this will be the same for players and officials in July.

ãI am conscious of how much is at stake during the tournament ö not only places in the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in 2007, but also how success will boost the sport in the respective countries. It will do much for development at grass roots level which, of course, is so important for the future of the game.ä

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu, whose nation won the inaugural ICC Trophy 26 years ago, is aware how important the event is for developing cricket nations. Ê

ãIn Sri Lanka we have a particular regard for the ICC Trophy since we won the inaugural tournament back in 1979. It was a real stepping stone for Sri Lankan cricket. We went on to play our first Test match just three years later and less than 15 years after that we won the biggest one-dayÊ trophy of all, the ICC Cricket World Cup. So it is without hesitation that I wish all 12 countries well during the tournament in Ireland and, like everyone else in world cricket, I shall be following the event eagerly to see which five win through to the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.

ãObviously it will be a huge boost for cricket in those countries and players will receive tremendous enjoyment and benefit form taking part at the highest level. It would also be good for the game it they sprung a few surprises in the West Indies ö but not against Sri Lanka, please!ä

Two of the teams that qualify from the ICC Trophy 2005 will be in Australiaâs group in the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007. Sri Lanka will face one ICC Trophy team in the first round.