After its seven-wicket win over Australia in the World Cup this March, the Lankan team was swamped with gifts, cash, crs, and free holiday offers. And considering that the per capita income in the country is just $700 dollars, the prizes were literally big bucks.
With Lanka now through to the finals of the Singer Cup, it is favoured to take the top prize of $100,000 dollars. And there's more.
Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya got a specially designed wardrobe from a leading Indian garment maker. The cricketers have, besides, pushed out film stars from the television screens as preferred ad models, and endorse practically anything.
Deputy skipper Aravinda D'Silva, who has an aggregate of 259 runs in the Singer Cup this far without getting out even once, is a favourite for the 'Player of the Series' award which carries with it a sports car worth $35,000.
More rewards will flow in if Lanka win the finals on September 7. India and Australia meet on Thursday to decide who will oppose Lanka in that match.
``I hope the money doesn't go to anyone's head,'' said skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. ``Many senior players don't understand why people are offering rewards now, when we never got anything before. I told them that it was something the country wanted to do for us, in return for the World Cup we won for them.''
Sri Lanka's success comes 14 years after becoming a full member of the International Cricket Council. After the World Cup win, they received $130,000 from the organising committee. Besides, both Ranatunga and D'Silva received cars worth $20,000 dollars from local businessmen. Asanka Gurusinghe and D'Silva received a further $6,000 for scoring over 50 runs apiece in the final.
Further, every run scored in the final was worth $20, every wicket, $400 dollars. Each six was worth $180, each four $120.
President of the neighbouring island nation of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom gave the entire team an all-expenses paid, one-week holiday in his territory.
In the ongoing Singer Cup, the winning team will get $50,000, the runners up will get $25,000, the batsman who hits the maximum sixes will win a BMW-650 motorcycle and the player of the series can choose between a KIA Sephia luxury car or KIA Sportage fourwheel-drive jeep.