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Sri Lankan board consider last-minute invitation
Charlie Austin - 23 September 2001

The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) are considering an invitation from the cash starved Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to embark on a short one-day tour in early October.

The invitation follows a severely disrupted home schedule that is believed to have left the PCB facing a serious financial crisis.

Estimated losses so far this year are thought to be in the region of USD $ 35 million after the cancellation of India's tour earlier this year, India's last-minute withdrawal from the Asian Test Championship (ATC) and New Zealand's recent pull-out in the wake of the terrorist attack in America. The PCB have received no income since England's tour last December.

When Australia and West Indies refused to play in Sri Lanka during the Wills World Cup in 1996 after a Tamil Tiger bombing in Colombo, Pakistan and India responded by sending their players for a hastily arranged curtain raiser in a show of solidarity.

The Sri Lankan board, mindful of this previous support, are seriously considering a three-match ODI tour, but are not expected to say yes with the ongoing military build-up in the region.

The BCCSL Chief Executive, Anura Tennekoon, confirmed receiving the request, but said that a final decision would not be made until next week.

"It is not an easy decision to make as we are uncertain about the situation," he said. "However, the Interim Committee will meet next week and make the decision."

Meanwhile, the West Indies cricket board has confirmed that they will be re-examining all future tours in light of recent world events during a meeting scheduled for 28-29 September. The West Indies are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in November and December.

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