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Sri Lanka are hunting for grounds to conduct their practice sessions as they have not been allocated any practice venues for this week.

Team sources said that they had to make use of one of the four grounds that is not being used by other teams for practice.

The grounds allocated for practice to the 12 teams participating in the ICC Champions trophy tournament are at NCC, Police Park, SSC and R. Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka have qualified to play in the semi-finals of the competition having won both their Pool 4 matches against Pakistan and Holland rather comprehensively. They have a 11-day break from the competition before taking on Australia (leaders of Pool 1) in the second semi-final match under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium on September 27.

According to team management sources Sri Lanka are conducting light practices leading up to the all-important semi-final clash.

Most of the participating countries who have big gaps between matches are taking time to relax. Seven Indian cricketers flew home to be with their families as India had a break of eight days between their first Pool 2 match against Zimbabwe and the next against England which is on September 22.

The Australians are due to fly off to Maldives on a short holiday after their Pool 1 match against Bangladesh starting today. Their next game is the semi-final against Sri Lanka.

The West Indies are staying back in Sri Lanka after the Champions trophy for two weeks to prepare themselves for the tour of India starting in the first week of October where they will play three Tests and seven one-dayers. They are expected to practice at the Police Park from September 23 onwards and are due to play a 3-day practice game against a Sri Lankan combined side starting on September 29 at the same venue.

Details of the Sri Lankan-combined side has yet to be finalised and it may include at least six Australian cricketers who are due to stay back in Colombo preparing for the first Test against Pakistan starting at the Sara Stadium on October 3.   S.T.

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