Sri Lanka Tour South Africa In 1997/98 (14 Feb 1997)

14 February 1997

South Africa Schedule

Comment by ELMO RODRIGOPULLE

Sri Lanka the World Cup Champions will make their first-ever tour of South Africa after the attainment of Test status in March/April 1998 for a two Test series.

After the two Tests, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan will play a triangular tournament which will comprise day and day/night games.

In the only Test series played between the two countries in Sri Lanka in 1993, South Africa beat Sri Lanka in one Test with two Tests drawn.

APARTHEID

Since the South Africans shed their apartheid policies and made it to the big league they have turned out into being a super power in the cricketing arena and when Sri Lanka play them there, they will be up against a awesome force led admirably by Hansie Cronje.

When South Africa`s emergence as a power in cricket is spoken about, the one man whose name comes to mind is Dr. Ali Bacher, a former Springbok captain and now Managing Director of the South African cricketing business.

IN MARCH

Sri Lanka`s tour next year will be from March 7 to April 23. Before engaging South Africa in the two Tests and joining Pakistan in the triangular series, Sri Lanka will get a feel of the conditions there when they play three practice games.

The first Test is from March 19 to 23 and the second Test from March 27 to 31. The first Test will be played in Cape Town and the second Test in Centurion Park.

UNDER-24

Previously it was an under-24 Sri Lanka team that toured South africa led by that hottest going cricket property in Sri Lanka today, the dashing Sanath Jayasuriya who was selected the `Most Valuable Player` in the World Cup tournament won by Sri Lanka in Lahore last year.

The triangular series will be a one final affair and not a best of three finals as played in Australia.

The following is the tour itinerary finalised and released to the BCCSL by the United Cricket Board of South Africa.

March, Saturday 7, 8, 9 - Sri Lanka v Transvaal (Johannesburg), Wed. 11 - Sri Lanka v North West Province D/N (Fochville), Sat. 14, 15, 16 - Sri Lanka v Boland (Paarl), Thu. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 - First Test: South Africa v Sri Lanka (Cape Town), Fri. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 - Second Test: South Africa v Sri Lanka (Centurion).

Triangular series with South Africa and Pakistan:

April 3 - South Africa v Pakistan, D/N (Durban), Sun 5 - South Africa v Sri Lanka, Day (Johannesburg), Tue 7 - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, D/N (Kimberley), Thu 9 - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, D/N (Paarl), Sat 11 - South Africa v Pakistan, Day (East London), Mon 13 - South Africa v Sri Lanka, Day (Port Elizabeth), Wed 15 - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, D/N (Benoni), Fri 17 - South Africa v Pakistan, D/N (Centurion), Sun 19 - South Africa v Sri Lanka, Day (Bloemfontein), Wed 22 - Final, D/N (Cape Town), Thu 23 - Final (alternate day).

Source :: The Observer ( https://www.lanka.net/lakehouse )