Sri Lanka to take part in Canada Twenty20 tournament

Sri Lanka have confirmed their participation in a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in October, also involving Pakistan, West Indies and hosts Canada.

The Canada Cup Four Nation Twenty20 tournament was scheduled to be held between August 14-17, but was postponed due to sponsorship issues. Bangladesh were to compete alongside Pakistan, West Indies and Canada, but Sri Lanka will now replace them. "Sri Lanka will participate in the quadrangular Twenty20 competition involving Pakistan, West Indies and hosts Canada from October 10-13," Sri Lanka Cricket chief Arjuna Ranatunga, told the Press Association.

The board has also entrusted Duleep Mendis, the chief executive, with the task of convincing leading players to tour England next year. Senior players, including Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, have opposed the tour, in April and May, as it clashes with the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

"I have been asked to see how the matter could be sorted out," Mendis said. "I will talk to the players and see what best can be done. We are looking at the possibility of the players taking a short break from the IPL to tour England."

Thirteen of Sri Lanka's players are contracted with the IPL, which will be held from April 10 to May 29. The England tour begins on April 21, but Sri Lanka's players could possibly miss the three warm-up games leading to the first Test, which starts on May 7. Last year, New Zealand Cricket had permitted five of their players, including captain Daniel Vettori, to skip two warm-up games on their England tour in order to play more matches in the IPL.

Less than two months back, Sri Lanka's players had been allowed to take part in the IPL despite it clashing with the England tour, but Ranatunga recently insisted the tour would go ahead.