KARACHI: Sri Lanka cricket board chief Duleep Mendis has quashed uncertainty prevailing over his team’s proposed tour of Pakistan, saying that it will visit the country this season.
Mendis, a former Sri Lanka captain, who is heading the interim set-up of the country’s cricket board, said in an interview on Thursday that the two boards are still discussing the tour itinerary, adding that it should be confirmed within the next few days.
There were fears that Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan may fall victim to scheduling problems after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) told Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that it would not be able to send its team to Pakistan on the previously-agreed dates (Jan 20-Feb 25).
It told PCB that Sri Lanka can visit Pakistan for a shortened series starting in mid-February to play two Tests, three One-day Internationals and a twenty20 game instead of the three Tests and five ODIs agreed previously.
However, Pakistan were not happy with this new development as such the tour schedule will clash with their ODI series in Bangladesh which is supposed to get underway from March 3.
However, Mendis made it clear that there were no problems as far as the tour is concerned, saying that Sri Lanka will honour their commitment.
But he said that Sri Lanka will just be playing two Tests, three one-dayers and twenty20 game in Pakistan.
Action-starved Pakistan had lined up the home series against Sri Lanka after India pulled out of their tour because of strained relations between the two countries.
The Test series against Sri Lanka, which is now likely to begin end of February will be Pakistan’s first in almost 14 months.
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Sri Lanka will honour commitment: Mendis
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