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Sri Lanka may replace India for Sahara Cup |
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August 18, 2000
COLOMBO (AP) - Sri Lanka may play Pakistan in the Sahara Cup cricket tournament in Toronto next month, replacing India, which withdrew, cricket officials said Thursday.
"We do have free time, but let me put it on record that there has been no formal invitation yet," said Chandrishan Perera, spokesman for the Sri Lankan cricket board.
But other cricket officials said tournament organizers had informally sounded out the Sri Lankan board.
India stepped out of the Sept. 9-16 series of one-day matches, saying it would not play against Pakistan because of recent killings in Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militant groups.
The Indian government's decision also cast a shadow over the Indian cricket team's scheduled tour to Pakistan in November to play a test series.
Indian newspapers have reported that part of the reason for the withdrawal is a police and Income Tax Department investigation of Indian team members in connection with an international match fixing scandal. Some officials reportedly do not want players under investigation to represent the national side. No one has been charged.
Last year India refused to play Pakistan in Toronto following a confrontation between the armies of the hostile neighbors in the Kargil sector of Kashmir.
Instead, the West Indies team went to Canada and played a series of one-day matches against the Indian and Pakistani sides, which never played each other.
International Management Group, which organizes the series, said it was looking into alternatives to salvage the series, including the entry of a third nation.
Sri Lanka's next cricket commitment is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where it is to take part in a limited-over competition against Pakistan on Sept. 22.
The Sri Lankan officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the team could detour through Toronto and take part in both tournaments.
"Right now, it is speculation, as we don't have any official communication," Perera said.
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