Giant ball offers inspiration to Sri Lanka team

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 February 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.