da casino: Sri Lanka Cricket expresses concern over future tours following recent air strikes
da bet7: Sa'adi Thawfeeq06-May-2007
Smiling for the present, worried for the future. © AFP
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has expressed concern over future cricket tours toSri Lanka following the recent air raids to Colombo by a militant rebelgroup.K Mathivanan, the SLC secretary, said that the serious situation in thecountry at present was not encouraging especially with England scheduled tovisit later this year. England are due to make a tour of Sri Lanka in twolegs – first for a series of five ODIs from October 1 to 13 and then againfrom December 1 to 22 for a three-Test series.Mathivanan also raised his fear regarding financial loses they would face ifthe tour was to be cancelled. “If the tour fails to materialise, SLC standsto lose five million dollars as television rights from Ten Sports.”Last year South Africa pulled out of the Unitech Cup triangular series thatalso featured India citing security concerns following a bomb blast inColombo, a move which was criticised by SLC because the security assessmentwas made by a Dubai-based firm.According to sources, the future of Tom Moody, Sri Lanka’s coach, extendinghis contract with the team also hinges on the security situation in Colombo.Moody’s two-year contract ends on May 31 and he has yet to indicate hisfuture plans. He is due to have a meeting with the SLC top brass on May 13to discuss his plans.Since last May, Sri Lanka had no cricket tours to this country because theteam was away on tours to England, India, New Zealand and the West Indies.International cricket is due to return to Sri Lanka in June this year withBangladesh scheduled to play three Tests and three ODIs.






