? England Test tour comes first, says Sri Lanka board
? Lasith Malinga to miss England tour and stay in IPL
Sri Lanka remain committed to withdrawing their players from the IPL ahead of the tour of England despite dire warnings from the Indian board about the consequences. Tillakaratne Dilshan, their new captain, has flown back briefly from the IPL to confirm that their players will be pulled out of the competition on 5 May, 10 days earlier than expected.
Their determination to press ahead with the policy, at the behest of the sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, comes despite a tense phone conversation between a top official of the Indian board with counterparts in Sri Lanka warning that the latter are reliant on India's financial muscle for survival.
Sri Lanka have named a 16-strong squad to tour England and play three Tests, the first of them in Cardiff from 26 May. It lacks Lasith Malinga, the slingshot fast bowler who will remain with Mumbai Indians at the IPL after insisting that his body can no longer survive the rigours of Test cricket, a point he repeated during the World Cup, and Angelo Mathews, Dilshan's rival for the captaincy, who was injured during the World Cup semi-final defeat of England.
Kumar Sangakkara, who resigned as captain after the World Cup, and Mahela Jayawardene ? have also been ordered to return from the IPL early, as have the spinners Suraj Randiv and Rangana Herath and the all-rounder Tissara Perera.
Sangakkara has praised Dilshan's "little touches for success", and Jayawardene has called him a "street-smart cricketer", but their professionalism will not disguise their frustration at Sri Lanka Cricket's sudden about-turn. Dilshan, a brilliantly innovative batsman but rarely presented as a deep thinker, faces a tough baptism.
Aluthgamage said: "The English series has been part of the cricket calendar for a long time. Everyone knew about it. We have a new captain. We have a new coach. We might soon have a new vice-captain. They have to be together for a few days. Moreover, the entire team has to fly to England with some days in hand to acclimatise. Even now, we are chatting with the Indian cricket board. Maybe a few days' adjustment could be done. But I again say, that everyone knew about the England tour."
Malinga's absence has been described by Aluthgamage as "awkward". He has played only 30 Tests in seven years as Sri Lanka have kept him fit for the one-day format, so his absence has a precedence.
Dilshan last stood in as captain for a tri-nations series in Zimbabwe last year, but he was at the centre of allegations of misbehaviour and ill-discipline, none proven, and was removed as vice-captain without explanation.
Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene, Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/20/sri-lanka-england-tour-malinga
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