Sri Lanka players to play IPL till May 18

Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to allow its cricketers to play in the IPL till May 18, after a meeting with sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. The board had earlier asked the players to return on May 5 in order to prepare for the tour of England, which begins with a practice match against Middlesex on May 14. However, they have now issued a release saying the players have only to arrive in time for the second warm-up game, against England Lions, starting May 19. The first Test is on May 26.

"We are favourably looking at giving players more time to play the IPL before joining the team for the England tour," Aluthgamage told AFP. "We have excellent relations with the government of India and the Indian cricket board. We don't want to upset, or embarrass India."

He, however, denied that Sri Lanka were succumbing to pressure from the BCCI. He said the initial decision to call the players back early was taken by the new selection panel headed by Duleep Mendis in order to give the players time to prepare for the series, and it was not intended to spark any controversy. "The selectors felt the boys were playing too many one-dayers and Twenty20s for the past two months. They wanted the players to come early and adjust to English conditions and new changes in team management. There is no sinister move."

As seven of the 16 players selected for the Test tour are involved in the IPL, SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga stated that the selectors would pick an additional three to four players to make up the XI for the tour opener against Middlesex.

SLC had originally given the Sri Lanka players till May 20 to play in the IPL, and following their change in the date, the BCCI had contacted Sri Lanka's board asking them to reconsider. The decision had sparked mixed reactions among the Sri Lanka players, with Muttiah Muralitharan criticising it, while new captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said he did not mind it since playing for the country came before playing the IPL.

Sri Lanka's players will now miss only the last week of the IPL. Lasith Malinga has not been slected for the Tests, since he had told the board he was injured, but he has been asked to return to Sri Lanka to undergo a rehabilitation programme.