Date:11/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/11/stories/2008071161552100.htm

Sport - Cricket

Sri Lanka’s tour of England in doubt

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s tour of England next year is in doubt because players are unhappy that its timing will clash with the lucrative Indian Premier League competition.

Sri Lanka agreed earlier this week to replace Zimbabwe and play two Tests and three one-day internationals in England next May.

The players have complained because it would mean they would miss most of the Twenty20 IPL competition, with many of them having already signed three-year contracts.

The players asked Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene when they met him on Wednesday on their return from Pakistan after winning the Asia Cup.

Current National players Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis have all signed with the IPL. — AP