Saturday 6th September 2008
Mendis out to persuade players
SSri Lanka Cricket chief executive officer Duleep Mendis has to persuade Sri Lanka to tour England next year.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced in July this year Sri Lanka would play two Tests and three one-day internationals in April and May 2009. But Sri Lanka's players have refused to tour as the dates clash with the second edition of the Indian Premier League.
"I have been asked to see how the matter could be sorted out," Mendis told reporters. "I will talk to the players and see what best can be done. We are looking at the possibility of the players taking a short break from the IPL to tour England."
Several Sri Lankan cricketers, including skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, have contracts with IPL clubs.
Sri Lankan players refused to attend talks with Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge and SLC officials on Friday and instead sent Sri Lanka Cricketers Union representative Graeme Labrooy.
No final decision was made at the meeting.
