S Thawfeeq: Three counties likely here next year (24 Sep 1998)

24 September 1998

Three counties likely here next year

by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Leicestershire, who crowned themselves as the 1998 English county champions on Sunday, and Middlesex have shown an inclination to make a tour of Sri Lanka during the winter in preparation for the next county season.

There is also the possibility of a third county, probably Lancashire coming to Sri Lanka.

All these counties showed an interest to tour Sri Lanka, when they were approached by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board's representative committee in UK on the recent tour there by the national team.

Their visits to Sri Lanka is being worked on a reciprocal basis, with the counties willing to sign up a few prospective Sri Lankan players to appear in their second eleven sides.

Sri Lanka beat Leicestershire by nine wickets during the tour, and Lancashire, signed up world class spinner Muthiah Muralitharan for one season next year.

If the Sri Lanka Cricket Board can get things moving in co-ordination with the UK cricket committee headed by Asitha Jayaweera, the visit of these counties to the country could be made a reality.

These clubs could engage themselves in competition with the top clubs in Sri Lanka which include the national players.

It would also be an useful exercise from the point of view of Sri Lanka cricket administrators to give an opportunity to borderline players and those struggling to regain their places in the national team by engaging these counties in competition.

There is also a thought if these county sides can come over to Sri Lanka at an appropriate period, a one-day triangular or a quadrangular tournament can be organised in preparation for the forthcoming World Cup in England next year as Sri Lanka won't have any international engagaments at home until August 1999 when Australia are due to come for a three-Test series.

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