Sri Lanka cave in over idea of asking IPL to release players by 5 May

Sri Lanka's resolve to make a stand against the Indian Premier League and demand the return of their players by 5 May to prepare for the England tour has lasted all of 48 hours. The country's sports minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, adamant that the players must return, has now said he will "ask" the selectors to allow the Sri Lanka players in the IPL not to join the squad in London until 18 May.

In Sri Lanka, where what the government says goes, that is "ask" as in "tell". Sri Lanka's selectors will politely accede and Sri Lanka's IPL players will now join the rest of the squad about a week before the first Test. Speculation will abound over what threats, or indeed favours, have been discussed for such an about-turn. Aluthgamage is now quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying: "We have excellent relations with the government of India and the Indian cricket board. We don't want to upset or embarrass India."

Sri Lanka's opening tour game against Middlesex on 14 May will now have minimal purpose, but it is the final warm-up game against England Lions, which begins in Derby on 19 May, that Sri Lanka's top stars including Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are now likely to be plunged into a day after reaching the UK. That match is only a week before the first Test starts in Cardiff.

Presumably the Sri Lankan selectors' threat to summon back Lasith Malinga from the IPL on 5 May so his fitness can be assessed for Test cricket, even though he has not been named in the Test squad to tour England, will now also be quietly dropped.

Aluthgamage denied that Indian pressure had influenced the change of heart. The decision to call back the players early was made by a new selection panel, headed by Duleep Mendis, in order to give the players time to prepare for the series. In a matter of days, Mendis has overstretched his hand.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has no intention of getting involved. If Sangakkara and company turn up in Cardiff half an hour before the start they will probably blame the traffic on the Severn Bridge.

View the original article here