Colombo, Feb 22: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday held its annual ICC Commercial Partner Forum in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The forum was held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel and followed three days of inspections of men’s tournament venues – Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele.

This Forum was the first opportunity for the ICC to share its detailed plans with its commercial partners for the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 event which will be staged in Sri Lanka from 18 September to 7 October.

During the Forum, presentations and discussions also centered the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2012 which will take place in Queensland, Australia, from 11-26 August.

ICC General Manager – Commercial, Campbell Jamieson, reflecting on the Forum, said: “The ICC has staged three successful ICC World Twenty20 events in South Africa, England and West Indies, and this year’s event sees the arrival of this exciting tournament to the cricket mad Indian sub-continent.

“After an amazing final between India and Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in Mumbai last year, expectations are running high among cricket fans as well as the ICC Partner group that the next ICC event will be an even bigger success.

“This annual gathering provides an opportunity for senior representatives of the ICC’s commercial partners to plan and discuss their involvement in ICC events during 2012 and beyond.

“With ICC and its partners now halfway through the current rights cycle, it is important for everyone to reflect on what has worked during the past four years and what areas can be improved upon..”

The next such gathering of ICC commercial partners is likely to take place after the conclusion of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 event and will be held specifically in preparation for the ICC events to be held during 2013.