Sri Lanka reschedule New Zealand series for April

Sri Lanka will finish their two-Test tour of New Zealand in April after the original trip was cancelled in the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami. Martin Snedden, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, said he was also working to reschedule the four one-day matches that were abandoned when the squad returned home to assist with the nation's recovery.

The Tests will begin on April 4 and April 11 and the venues are expected to be confirmed in two weeks. "The climatic conditions in early April are normally similar to those in March and we are confident that Test cricket can be played at this time of year," Snedden said.

Shane Warne, who played his first one-day international since December 2002 last night, will captain a FICA World XI in three limited-overs matches against New Zealand in a hastily-arranged replacement series to raise money for tsunami victims. Warne will be joined by Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya and Andy Flower at Christchurch on January 22, Wellington on January 24 and Hamilton on January 26.

"We hope to break even from the series or to run at a manageable loss," Snedden said. "It will be expensive to hold, but the benefits for the home cricket season and the Black Caps, as well as those who benefit from our fundraising activities, will make the series more than worthwhile. The series is an important initiative." Snedden said funds from the matches would go to World Vision and Sri Lanka's Cricket-Aid, which is providing emergency relief for the homeless.

FICA World XIs Game 1 Shane Warne (capt), Andy Flower, Ian Harvey, Graeme Hick, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lance Klusener, Nick Knight, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jonty Rhodes, Kumar Sangakkara, Heath Streak, Chaminda Vaas.

Game 2 Shane Warne (capt), Andy Bichel, Matthew Elliott, Andy Flower, Ian Harvey, Graeme Hick, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lance Klusener, Nick Knight, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jonty Rhodes, Kumar Sangakkara, Heath Streak, Chaminda Vaas.

Game 3 Shane Warne (capt), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Matthew Elliott, Andy Flower, Ian Harvey, Graeme Hick, Sanath Jayasuriya, Justin Langer, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jonty Rhodes, Kumar Sangakkara, Heath Streak, Chaminda Vaas