Sponsors first Sri Lankan ODI series abroad

The country's premier telecommunications service provider, Dialog Telekom, notched up another highlight by being the first Sri Lankan company to sponsor an international cricket series overseas.

Sri Lanka will play Zimbabwe in a five-match One-Day International Series at Harare for the Dialog Cup starting 20 November.

Nushad Perera, Dialog Telekom's Group Chief Marketing Officer, said "this is the beginning of a new innings for a Sri Lankan brand identity in the international arena.

Dialog has a close association with national sports, and like it does with technology innovation we are proud to facilitate yet another Sri Lankan first.

This will be a long and fruitful innings for Dialog and Sri Lanka Cricket," he added.

Commenting on this historic occasion, Mr. Chris McDonald, CEO - TEN SPORTS, said: "we are delighted to have Dialog Telekom on board as the exclusive title sponsor for this exciting series of matches, and we have no doubt that subscribers will enjoy the highest quality live primetime coverage of the series."

This is the first time in four years that the Sri Lankan cricket team is touring Zimbabwe, after a two-test and five-match one-day series in 2004, which were whitewashed by the touring side. Sri Lanka has played Zimbabwe in 37 One-Day Internationals and won 30 matches. Dialog Telekom, one of Sri Lanka's largest listed companies, is a prominent sponsor of Sri Lankan Sports and is committed to developing talent to international standards.

The company is closely associated with School Cricket, Rugby, Volleyball, Football and Rowing and has sponsored national contingents to international events including the Olympics Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Asian Athletic Championships and SAF Games.