A major standoff between the powerful BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket was on Thursday averted with the island nation extending the deadline for its players' return from the IPL till May 18, a compromise which put an end to the uncertainty over their availability.
Under pressure from the BCCI to extend the original May 5 deadline, SLC relented after a meeting with country's Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and allowed its star players to participate in cash-rich event for 13 more days.
Sources said according to the revised schedule, the players will now participate in the IPL till May 18 and leave from Mumbai for their tour of England after that.
The series against England starts May 14 with a practice match against Middlesex, followed by another warm-up game against England Lions on May 19.
The first Test of the three Tests is scheduled to begin in Cardiff from May 26 which means that those players staying back for IPL would just have about a week to prepare for the series.
The indications of a compromise came earlier in the day when Aluthgamage said that the players might be allowed to stay beyond the original May 5 deadline.
more here
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2011/news/Sri-Lanka-relents-allows-players-to-stay-in-IPL-till-May-18/articleshow/8048162.cms
Under pressure from the BCCI to extend the original May 5 deadline, SLC relented after a meeting with country's Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and allowed its star players to participate in cash-rich event for 13 more days.
Sources said according to the revised schedule, the players will now participate in the IPL till May 18 and leave from Mumbai for their tour of England after that.
The series against England starts May 14 with a practice match against Middlesex, followed by another warm-up game against England Lions on May 19.
The first Test of the three Tests is scheduled to begin in Cardiff from May 26 which means that those players staying back for IPL would just have about a week to prepare for the series.
The indications of a compromise came earlier in the day when Aluthgamage said that the players might be allowed to stay beyond the original May 5 deadline.
more here
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2011/news/Sri-Lanka-relents-allows-players-to-stay-in-IPL-till-May-18/articleshow/8048162.cms
