Date:02/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010256631700.htm

Sport - Cricket

Sri Lankans keen to host Indians

Colombo: After playing in troubled Pakistan, Sri Lanka is keen host India for a cricket tour.

“We are confirming the cricket tour to Pakistan, there is no change in it. But we will try to bring the Indian cricket team to Sri Lanka after our Pakistan tour,” Sri Lanka Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge said on Thursday. Lokuge, however, parried a query on whether they wanted a change in the original itinerary of their tour to Pakistan as has been claimed by PCB officials.

“The itinerary is not with me. The Sri Lankan cricket team will be touring Pakistan after our Bangladesh visit,” he said. Sri Lankan cricket officials had first confirmed a tour to Pakistan from January 20 to play three Tests and five one-day internationals but now they want a shortened tour of two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 game from February 15, according to PCB officials.

On whether there was any suggestions given by BCCI to the SLC on the Pakistan tour as reported in a section of the media, Lokuge said BCCI has not spoken to them on the proposed matches between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. — PTI