Sri Lanka news round-up (1 Oct 1997)

Wednesday 01, October 1997

SRI LANKA SPORTS NEWS AT-A-GLANCE

Compiled by Dinesh Weerawansa

* The Board of Control for Cricket in India has identified Mohali, Nagpur and Mumbai as Test venues for Sri Lanka's three-match home series starting early November.

Sri Lanka are due to tour India immediately after they end the four-nation Jinnah Cup one day international tournament in Pakistan on November 8. Sri Lanka will open their tour of India with a one day limited over benefit match for Anshuman Gaekwad in Baroda on November 11.

The Lankans will play their only three-day warm up game from November 14 to 16 against India Board President's X1 before moving on to the first Test against India starting on November 19 in Mohali. The second Test will be played from November 26-30 in Nagpur and the final Test from December 3-7 in Mumbai. Sri Lanka team is also down to play three one day internationals in India in late December.

* Former Indian Test batsman Sanjay Manjrekar will lead the defending Ranji trophy champions Mumbai in their 5-day Irani Cup match against the `Rest of India' X1 led by India's Test leg spinner Anil Kumble.

The Rest of India X1 team include India national player - opener Novjot Sidhu, wicket keeper Nayan Mongia, spinner Venkatapathy Raju and young Robin Singh. Also included in the Indian X1 is Rohan Gaveskar, son of former Indian captain turned television commentator Sunil Gaveskar. The match will be played at Wankhede stadium, starting on the 5th of October.

* Pakistan will host the West Indies for a three-Test tour in November/ December this year. Paceman Courtney Walsh will lead thee West Indies team which will make a six-week tour of Pakistan to play in a Quadrangular one day tournament which will be followed by the three-Test series against the hosts.

The West Indies will open the Pakistan tour with a game against the World champions Sri Lanka in Lahore. Incidently, this will be the `curtain raiser' match if the Pakistan Independence Jubilee four-nation tournament which also features South Africa. On conclusion of the quadrangular final on November 8, the West Indies will play a four-day game against Pakistan Board X1 from November 11 to 14 in Rawalpindi before moving to the first Test at Peshawar from November 17.

* The Pakistan Cricket Board has finalised all arrangements for the Independence Jubilee tournament for the Jinnah trophy in November. The quadrangular tournament also features West Indies, South Africa and the World champions Sri Lanka. The West Indies will open the Pakistan tour with a game against the World champions Sri Lanka under lights in Lahore on November 1.

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* One of thee oldest clubs in Sri Lanka - the Dimbula Athletic and Cricket Club (Radella Club) will get a new life as the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka has at last given the `green light' for this 141-year-old ancient planters' club.

It is ti be developed to international standards, where the national cricketers will have all the practices prior to their foreign tours in the future. This has been made possible due to the effort of the evergreen sportsman and the veteran upcountry planter P.H.A.N. Dias. A top level discussion with the BCCSL and the local club officials were held at the Radella Club to map out the masterplan, which will have facilities for hostel, indoor games, extension to the pavilion and the grounds, and coaching facilities to schools in the district.

The weather conditions at Radella are similar to that of England, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Australia.

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