Lanka’s largesse to India irks Safs

India open their triangular series in Sri Lanka with back-to-back games in the island’s cultural centre of Dambulla on August 14 and 16.

India open their triangular series in Sri Lanka with back-to-back games in the island’s cultural centre of Dambulla on August 14 and 16. According to South African contacts, who have been issued with their five-week itinerary of the island in July and August, their Test series against Sri Lanka has been scaled down to two Tests and a single pre-Test game because of India’s insistence that the triangular series be played between August 10 and 28.

This, say Saf contacts is to allow India to play a series of ODI games in the United States in September. As this is not part of the future tours programme and was not listed at the time of the agreement between South Africa and Sri Lanka to play three Tests on the island, the United Cricket Board is unhappy at the late change of tour details.

The UCB has reluctantly agreed to the request, but have also pointed out how the 2004 tour of the island was also reduced to a two-Test tour series and a host of limited overs games because the tour came shortly before the International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy tournament in England.

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Complaints are that tours of the island are subject to late logistical changes and the UCB are none too impressed, it seems with India’s excuse of the games in the USA, as they were not listed when tour arrangements were first drawn up. Safs two Tests are now to be played in Colombo for logistical reasons. The Kandy game has been moved to Colombo.

India arrive in Colombo on August 8 and have a practice game against a Sri Lanka XI at Kurunegala on August 10. According to tri-series itinerary details, still to be ratified, the first four games are to be held in Dambulla and the final two at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo before the final on August 28.

Sri Lanka open the triangular series on August 12 against South Africa, India play South Africa on August 14 and then South Africa on August 16 before the series is moved to Colombo.

–trevorchester.field@expressindia.com

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