Sri Lanka to play triangular in Morocco

Sri Lanka have agreed to play a one-day triangular series with Pakistan and South Africa in Tangiers, Morocco during August after Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka and prior to the ICC Champions Trophy in September.

The tournament follows the development of an international stadium in Tangiers, a project championed by Arab businessman Abdur Rahman Bukhatir, who was also responsible for the setting up of the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), which organises bi-annual tournaments in Sharjah.

Sri Lanka's cricket board have a strong relationship with Bukhatir, having agreed to play twice a year in Sharjah until 2004 and signed a three-year broadcasting rights memorandum of understanding with his Dubai based television company, Taj Television.

There are also tentative plans for the Sri Lanka A team to play regularly at the Moroccan venue, possibly with Pakistan A and India A should those two nations be able to resume cricketing ties.

Sri Lanka's participation in the inaugural international tournament in Morocco will mean an additional four matches in an already congested cricket calendar leading up to the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

In the next 12 months they are currently scheduled to play a minimum of 40 One-Day Internationals, which would stretch to 54 if they proceeded through to all the tournament finals.