SLC fears players' boycott, ask PCB to reschudele tour

Colombo, Mar 25 (UNI) Fearing a possible boycott from players, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have asked Pakistan to reschedule their proposed one-day international (ODI) series so that its players can participate in the cash rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

SLC chief executive Duleep Mendis made it clear that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will have to make way for the IPL and the tour dates should not clash with the Indian league which starts from April 18.

''We have told Pakistan that we are keen to help Pakistan only if it did not clash with the IPL,'' Mendis said here yesterdy.

After Australia pulled out from their tour of Pakistan, Sri Lanka offered the PCB to play in a short ODI series.

But the dates that the PCB proposed (April 23 to May 5) will clash with the 44-day event in India.

Sri Lankan team is currently playing a three-Test series in West Indies. But some of its star players including captain Mahela Jayawerdene, spinner Muttiah Murlitharan, wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkara, who are contracted with the IPL, had voiced their concerns over the Pakistan tour.

Earlier, on friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah had called up SLC to express the board's displeasure over the tour dates.

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