Cricket board monitoring situation in Sri Lanka

Karachi, May 15: The officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are monitoring law and order situation in Sri Lanka before deciding whether to go ahead with next month's scheduled tour of that country.

Fierce clashes in Jaffna, 400-km north of Colombo, have left the country almost paralysed. Pakistan are scheduled to play Sri Lanka in three Tests in Colombo, Galle and Kandy before the two teams are joined by South Africa for the triangular one-day series.

Pakistan, who arrive there on June 5, conclude the tour on July 17. "Yes, we are sitting with our fingers crossed. But at the moment, the tour is definitely on," sources said on the condition of anonymity.

When Pakistan toured Sri Lanka in 1994, one Test had to be abandoned because of elections in the pearl island which had led to curfew in Colombo.

"One thing is for sure; the players wouldn't be able to concentrate on cricket if the situation there persists. In addition to this, extensive security (there) would also restrain them from feeling at ease."

Australia and the West Indies had also forfeited their matches in the World Cup in 1996 because of security problems.