Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120557331900.htm

Sport

West Indies to replace Sri Lanka

LONDON: West Indies will tour England next year to replace Sri Lanka, which decided not to send a full-strength side because of the demands of the Indian Premier League.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday that West Indies, which was long rumoured to be lined up as a replacement, will play two Tests and three ODIs in May before England takes on Australia for the Ashes.

Sri Lanka was unable to send a full side because many of its leading players are contracted to play Twenty20 in the IPL, which clashes with the scheduled tour. The first Test starts May 6 at Lord’s and the last one-day international takes place on May 26.

Sri Lanka itself was only a replacement for Zimbabwe. England scrapped that series, with the backing of the British government, in protest against Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe, accused of using violence to win this year’s presidential runoff election.

“The West Indies are always popular visitors and this completes a wonderful summer of cricket,” ECB chief executive David Collier said. — AP