India, Australia and NZ for Sri Lanka Independence Cup tourney? (1 Feb 1998)

Sunday 01, February 1998

India, Australia and NZ for Independence Cup tourney?

By Lal Gunesekera

NEW ZEALAND, India and Australia are being tapped by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) to play alongside Sri Lanka in the country's Golden Jubilee Independence Cup Limited-Over tournament to be staged in Colombo during May/June.

The secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, Triphone Miranda, told the Sunday Observer that New Zealand will be touring Sri Lanka in May for three Tests and three One-Day Internationals, and that they are likely to stay back and play in the Independence Cup.

He said that the BCCSL are exploring the possibilities of getting down both India and Australia too, and whether this tournament will be a triangular or guadrangular would only be known once these sides (New Zealand, India and Australia) could confirm their willingness to participate.

Sri Lanka began their packed calender for the year by winning both the Test series (2-0) and One-Day Internationals (3-0) over Zimbabwe in the island last month.

The Lankans next embark on their tour of South Africa in early March for two Tests and also for the Triangular One-Day International series with South Africa and Pakistan.

Then comes the visit of the New Zealanders to Sri Lanka in May for the three Tests and three One-Day Internationals, followed by the Independence Cup in May/June.

Sri Lanka will also tour England starting August 11 for one solitary test from August 27 to 31 at Lords as well as for the One-Day Triangular series with England and South Africa.

It will be followed by the ICC One-Day Internationals between all Test playing countries (Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh) in Sharjah in September/October, followed by another One-Day International series in Sharjah in November between Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka will tour Australia in December for the World Series Cup.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)