Get players back for England tour, SLC urge Sports Minister

Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee chairman and the Sri Lanka Cricket chairman have requested the Sports Minister to get those players to be chosen for the England tour and now playing in the Indian Premier League back to the island before May 5.

On Tuesday the Sports Ministry announced that Sri Lankan cricketers will have to give priority to representing their country at international matches rather than for any other team and made it compulsory for them to play for the team whenever called up.

The Ministry also stated that a special circular regarding the implementation of this regulation was being prepared and was due to be presented to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. It further added that the players who comprise the squad for the England tour will have to return to Sri Lanka to attend training sessions despite being involved in the current Indian Premier League.

Sources also said that SLC was looking to finalise the filling of the captaincy and vice-captaincy of the Sri Lanka team that have arisen after the resignation of Kumar Sangakkara as captain and Mahela Jayawardena as vice captain.