Lankans can play-on

The Sports Minister has informed Sri Lankan cricketers playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be in London on May 18th instead of attending practices in Colombo from May 5.

“We are favourably looking at giving players more time to play IPL (Indian Premier League) before joining the team for the England tour,” Mahindananda Aluthgamage told AFP.

“We have excellent relations with the government of India and the Indian cricket board. We don't want to upset India. We don't want to embarrass them (BCCI).”Aluthgamage said he will meet cricket administrators shortly and suggest players be allowed to join the team by May 18 in London.more

The change of heart comes days after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) ordered its IPL players home by May 5 to prepare for the tour of England, more than three weeks before the money-spinning Twenty20 tournament ends.

The Test team was due to leave for England on May 10 ahead of a warm-up game on May 14 followed by the first Test at Cardiff on May 26.

The Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) wrote to SLC last Friday asking them to reconsider pulling out players early.

DM