Lanka, Australia to visit India in 2000-2001

In these days of non stop international cricket, the days of the long, leisurely tours made by one team during the season are a thing of the past. Perhaps the twin tour concept introduced by England in 1965 was a pointer of things to come but then India, by then had already played its part in making the concept popular. As early as in the 1964-65 season, as many as three teams - Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand - visited India, even though Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) were not an official Test side.

Over the last couple of decades - especially in the post Kerry Packer period - the number of tours have increased every season. Australia has regularly had two teams visiting that country for more than two decades now. And this has become common for all countries - India included. This year it was New Zealand and South Africa. Next season - 2000-2001 - will see India host Sri Lanka and Australia. According to JY Lele, secretary, Board of Control for Cricket in India, Sri Lanka will be the first to visit India in October-November while the Australians will come over in February-March.

The BCCI programmes and fixtures committee will meet in Mumbai on Friday to finalise the details of the 2000-2001 season.