Sri Lanka to Play A World Invitational Side (21 May 1996)

21 May 1996

Sri Lanka To Play World Invitational Side

World Cup-winners Sri Lanka will take on an invitation side containing some of the world`s top players at Gloucestershire`s County Ground, in Bristol, on May 31.

The Sri Lankans will field virtually the same team that beat Australia in a 50-overs-a-side contest played under World Cup rules. West Indian batsman Brian Lara is one of the few players who have yet to confirm they will play for the invitation team, put together by former England batsman Chris Cowdrey.

The invitation line-up includes West Indians Phil Simmons, Richie Richardson, Roger Harper and Ian Bishop, along with South African fast bowler Allan Donald and Pakistan allrounder Wasim Akram.

Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunge, who tore into the opposition during the World Cup, will open the batting for the Sri Lankans. Gloucestershire`s marketing director and former batsman, Andy Brassington, said: "We have a plan of what we want to do in the next five years, and bringing international cricket to the west country is one of those things."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk)