# Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, also known as Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium (Sinhala: මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ජාත්‍යන්තර ක්‍රිකට් ක්‍රීඩාංගනය, Tamil: மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ சர்வதேச துடுப்பாட்டு அரங்கம்), and abbreviately as MRIC Stadium, is an international cricket stadium in Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka. It was built for the 2011 Cricket World Cup and hosted two matches, the first being Sri Lanka against Canada, on 20 February 2011. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 people making It the second largest stadium in Sri Lanka.

## History

The proposal for a new International Cricket Stadium at Sooriyawewa was part of the government's programme to develop sports in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka as part of the government's plan to transform Hambantota into the second major urban hub of Sri Lanka, away from Colombo.
The following 2011 Cricket World Cup matches were held at Hambantota International Cricket Stadium in February 2011. The first official international match was between Sri Lanka and Canada on 20 February 2011, which Sri Lanka won by 210 runs. Two matches were played at the venue during the World Cup.
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted three 2012 ICC World Twenty20 matches and the inaugural edition of Lanka Premier League in 2020. The curator of the ground is Ravi Dissanayake and Manager is Colonel Shanaka Ratnayake.

## Criticism

With low coverage of international matches in very rural areas, it has come under extreme criticism and has been called a white elephant as only a few matches were held in the stadium considering the extreme costs for construction and maintenance. The ministers of opposition criticize that former government has hidden the true story of actual cost for its construction. To gain revenue the Stadium is often hired out for wedding receptions, however, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed that the stadium should be used for training purposes to gain revenue.
In 2016, after the inspections by Sri Lanka Cricket, president Thilanga Sumathipala pointed out that the walls, carpets, furniture and equipment in the stadium were in a severe state of neglect and deterioration without any attempt to revive the facility to its earlier status.

## Lanka Premier League

Initially, 2020 Lanka Premier League was scheduled to be held in Kandy, Dambulla and Hambantota. Due to COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, health officials agreed to reduce the quarantine period for foreign players from 14 days to 7 days. Following the urge from health officials, all 23 matches would be held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium. In 2021 venue hosted 2021 Lanka Premier League Playoffs matches as well.

## World Cup Cricket

In 2011, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium hosted two World Cup matches.

### 2011 Cricket World Cup

* 20 February 2011 (D/N) Scorecard
| Sri Lanka 332/7 (50 overs) | v | Canada 122 (36.5 overs) |
| Mahela Jayawardene 100 (81) John Davison 2/56 (8 overs) | | Rizwan Cheema 37 (35) Nuwan Kulasekara 3/16 (6 overs) |
* Sri Lanka won by 210 runs Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka Umpires: Ian Gould and Shavir Tarapore Player of the match: Mahela Jayawardene (SL)
* Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.
* 23 February 2011 (D/N) Scorecard
| Pakistan 317/7 (50 overs) | v | Kenya 112 (33.1 overs) |
| Umar Akmal 71 (52) Thomas Odoyo 3/41 (7 overs) | | Collins Obuya 47 (58) Shahid Afridi 5/16 (8 overs) |
* Pakistan won by 205 runs Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka Umpires: Tony Hill and Nigel Llong Player of the match: Umar Akmal (Pak)
* Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

## ICC World Twenty20

Sri Lanka hosted the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. Three matches were played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium. Other matches were played at R. Premadasa Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

### 2012 ICC World Twenty20

* 18 September 2012 (D/N) Scorecard
| Sri Lanka 182/4 (20 Overs) | v | Zimbabwe 100 (17.3 Overs) |
| Kumar Sangakkara 44(26) Graeme Cremer 1/27 (4 Overs) | | Hamilton Masakadza 20 (23) Ajantha Mendis 6/8 (4 Overs) |
* Sri Lanka won by 82 runs Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka Umpires: Ian Gould and Rod Tucker Player of the match: Ajantha Mendis (SL)
* Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first.
* 20 September 2012 (D/N) Scorecard
| Zimbabwe 93/8 (20 overs) | v | South Africa 94/0 (12.4 overs) |
| Craig Ervine 37 (40) Jacques Kallis 4/15 (4 overs) | | Richard Levi 50* (43) |
* South Africa won by 10 wickets Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka Umpires: Steve Davis and Richard Kettleborough Player of the match: Jacques Kallis (SA)
* South Africa won the toss and elected to field
* 22 September 2012 (D/N) Scorecard
| South Africa 78/4 (7 overs) | v | Sri Lanka 46/5 (7 overs) |
| AB de Villiers 30 (13) Nuwan Kulasekara 1/9 (1 over) | | Kumar Sangakkara 13 (11) Dale Steyn 2/10 (2 overs) |
* South Africa won by 32 runs Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (Eng) and Rod Tucker (Aus) Player of the match: AB de Villiers (SA)
* Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field

## International five-wicket hauls

    As of 1 September 2019
Three five-wicket hauls have been taken at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa, all in men's limited-overs international matches.

### One Day International five-wicket hauls

Five-wicket hauls in Men's One Day International matches at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium :
| No. | Bowler | Date | Team | Opposing Team | Inn | O | R | W | Result |
| 1 | Shahid Afridi | 23 February 2011 | Pakistan | Kenya | 2 | 8 | 16 | 5 | Pakistan won |
| 2 | Lasith Malinga | 16 August 2011 | Sri Lanka | Australia | 2 | 8.2 | 28 | 5 | Sri Lanka won |
| 3 | Haris Rauf | 22 August 2023 | Pakistan | Afghanistan | 2 | 6.2 | 18 | 5 | Pakistan won |

### Twenty20 International five-wicket hauls

Five-wicket hauls in Men's Twenty20 International matches at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium :
| No. | Bowler | Date | Team | Opposing Team | Inn | O | R | W | Result |
| 1 | Ajantha Mendis | 18 September 2012 | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 2 | 4 | 8 | 6 | Sri Lanka won |