Giant ball offers inspiration to Sri Lanka team

COLOMBO,  (Reuters) – A giant cricket ball weighing  750 kgs will be displayed at Suriyawaya Stadium in the southern  port city of Hambantota during the World Cup opening on Feb. 19  to offer inspiration to the Sri Lanka team.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, will host 12 matches in three  venues including one semi-final.

“The thread inside the ball has been chanted over by a  Buddhist priest, blessed by the clergy and Hindu swami to invoke  blessings to the Sri Lankan cricket team,” said Sitenda  Senaratne, the chief executive officer of Ceylon Leather  Products who are manufacturing the ball.