IPL issues for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka could be without several of their star names for their tour of England in 2009 due to the Indian Premier League.

Contract dispute with interim committee likely to be resolved next week

Sri Lanka could be without several of their star names for the tour of England in 2009 due to the Indian Premier League. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday that the Sri Lankans will play two Tests and three one-day internationals in April and May of next year. However the tour, added to the calendar due to the cancellation of the series against Zimbabwe, could see the visitors arrive without some of their leading players. The dates clash with the second season of the IPL, meaning the likes of captain Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya could all be missing.

Contract dispute

Currently the players are locked in a contract dispute with the Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee over new annual contracts. None of the current team have signed deals and have not been paid since February, with the issue set to come to a head before the start of the home series against India. But the board, headed by World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, are confident of coming to an agreement next week. "There are a few things to be ironed out," Sri Lanka Cricket's chief executive officer Duleep Mendis was quoted in the Colombo-based Daily Mirror. "There are a few differences between the board and the players but we should reach an agreement by next week."

Trophy squad

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's selectors have included Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof in a 30-man squad for this years' ICC Champions Trophy. The bowling duo are both coming back from injury that forced them to miss their country's recent success in the Asia Cup. Malinga has been sidelined with a knee problem since the home Test series against England at the start of the year but is now back to full fitness. Mahela Jawayawardene has been named as captain while new spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis, who took 6-13 in the recent victory over India, is selected alongside Muttiah Muralitharan. The 30-man probable list, which is subject to ratification by the Sri Lankan Sports Minister, will be reduced to 15 for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Sri Lanka Champions Trophy squad:
Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Michael Vandort, Upul Tharanga, Malinda Warnapura, Chamara Kapuegdara, TM Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Tilina Kandamby, Tilan Samaraweera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Jehan Mubarak, Farveez Maharoof, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Malinga Bandara, Gayan Wijekoon, Dilruwan Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welagedara, Ishsara Amerasinghe, Sujeewa Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Thilina Thushara Mirando.