Sri Lanka will confront Windies Pakistan in Sharjah (26 June 1999)

26 June 1999

Sri Lanka will confront Windies Pakistan in Sharjah

Chris Dhambarage

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) has confirmed Sri Lanka's participation in the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) Triangular limited over tournament to be worked off from October 13 to 22 in Sharjah, UAE.

The other two countries competing in this tournament are Pakistan and the West Indies. Sri Lanka will meet the West Indies in the curtain-raiser of the tournament on October 13. The teams will play each other twice and the two top teams will qualify to play in the final scheduled for October 22.

In fact this will be Sri Lanka's first overseas tour after the World Cup tournament in England in May/June. However Sri Lanka will be involved in a Triangular one-day Series at home against the newly crowned World Champions Australia and India from August 22 to 31. This will be followed by a three test series against Australia from September 3 to October 3.

Sri Lanka's previous tour to Sharjah in November last year was a disaster where they failed to reach the final of the tournament which also included India and Zimbabwe. The Sri Lankan team lost all their matches and eventually India won the title defeating Zimbabwe in the final.

Sri Lanka's overall record at Sharjah has been 14 wins from 47 outings. But the West Indies will be making their appearance in Sharjah after a long break and will be hoping to make their presence felt in the desert. Overall Sri Lanka have won eight matches against the West Indies out of the 29 outings with one game ending a nodecision.

October 13: Sri Lanka v West Indies
October 14: Pakistan v West Indies
October 15: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
October 16: Rest day
October 17: West Indies v Sri Lanka
October 18: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
October 19: Pakistan v West Indies
October 22: Final

Source :: The Daily News