West Indies send Dillon home from Sri Lanka

Less than 24 hours before the start of the triangular one-day international series involving West Indies, Zimbabwe and host Sri Lanka, it has been confirmed that the West Indian fast bowler, Mervyn Dillon has been sent packing from Sri Lanka.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) today confirmed that the fast bowler has been sent home for what it calls "disciplinary reasons". It was widely reported here in the Caribbean that Dillon, fearing for his personal safety on 5th December (general elections in Sri Lanka), did not attend the team's practice session and incurred the wrath of the tour's disciplinary committee.

The incident was reported to the WICB, who, after reviewing the facts surrounding Dillon's action, have accepted the tour disciplinary committee's recommendation that Dillon be sent home immediately.

Dillon is the fifth player to return to the Caribbean from the tour of Sri Lanka. The others are Reon King, Dinanath Ramnarine, Leon Garrick and Wavell Hinds, all of whom have returned for injury of one kind or the other, with the exception of Hinds, who had a death in the family.

The West Indies selectors called hard-hitting batsman Ricardo Powell and Trinidadian all-rounder Darryl Brown into the squad.