Proteas to tour Lanka

Chris Dhambarage

CRICKET: Sri Lanka Cricket received a tremendous boost yesterday with South Africa presenting their interest to tour the island this year in an attempt to make up their abandoned tri series in August last year.

The South Africans decided not to go ahead with the Unitech Cup triangular limited overs tournament which also featured India, following a bomb explosion close to their hotel in Colombo just before their match against Sri Lanka.

But Sri Lanka Cricket sources said that they have successfully negotiated with the South African Cricket authorities and they would all probably tour the island in June.

SLC sources said that if South Africa fails to fulfil their obligations to Sri Lanka during the course of the year they will face fines by the ICC amounting to US$ 150,000 per match.

In another major break through India have also agreed to tour Sri Lanka to play a total of four one day internationals soon after the Afro Asian championships which will be staged in Chennai from June 6 to 10. However a top official of SLC said that whether the three teams will play a tri series or a bi series depends on the availability of both teams.

The sources pointed out that in case the two teams will not be able to tour the island at the same time it will be two separate series. SLC sources also said that plans are underway to organise a bi lateral series against New Zealand similar to the Ashes series between England and Australia.

Meanwhile in another major development Sri Lanka Cricket will sign an agreement with the Board of Investment this week to upgrade the Pallekelle grounds into an international stadium.

The development work at this ground will commence soon after the World Cup in the West Indies and SLC is planning to include this stadium as a venue for the 2011 World Cup which will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.