BCCI agrees to shift Lanka tri-series matches to Colombo

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) Accepting the request made by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the BCCI today formally gave its nod to a change of venue for the India-Sri Lanka-South Africa ODI tri-series from Dambulla to Colombo.

The change of venue has been done on the request of the SLC interim committee, which fears sabotage at Dambulla stadium if the Mohan de Silva-led faction loses this Saturday's elections to the SLC.

However, BCCI Secretary Niranajan Shah clarified that India's agreement to the change of venues was not affected by the board politics in the island nation.

''We were requested to change the venues and we agreed because it suited us. As for the elections, that is their internal matter. We have nothing to do with it,'' Mr Shah told UNI over phone.

The interim committee was appointed as a replacement to the Thilanga Sumathipala-led SLC, which was dissolved last year. Mohan de Silva is being backed by Sumathipala for the fresh election to reconstitute the board.

De Silva had earlier asserted that matches would be held as per the original schedule despite poor manage ment by the interim committee. Dambulla was scheduled to host four matches of the series.

The revised schedule: August 10: arrival August 14: Sri Lanka v South Africa (Colombo) August 16: India v Sri Lanka (Colombo) August 19: India v South Africa (Colombo) August 21: Sri Lanka v South Africa (Colombo) August 24: India v Sri Lanka (Colombo) August 26: India v South Africa (Colombo) August 29: Final (Colombo) UNI PM AY VA PM1350