Sri Lanka plans change of venues, approaches BCCI

Colombo, Aug 2 (UNI) Confirming that Sri Lanka has once again requested a change of venues for the forthcoming tri-series also involving South Africa, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah today said the issue will be settled within the next couple of days.

''We have received a fresh request from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and all three boards are discussing the matter,'' Mr Shah told UNI.

''We will settle the it schedule in the next two-three days,'' he added.

The tri-series, which is scheduled to get underway from August 11, was originally scheduled in Dambulla and Colombo. The first four games -- from August 14-29 -- were planned in Dambulla and the remaining three, including the final, were to be held in Colombo.

However, the SLC changed the schedule last month and shifted the entire series to Colombo due to financial disputes with the stadium authorities in Dambulla. The board now claims to have settled the issue and wants the series to be re-scheduled according to the original iternary.

An SLC official said the board is in touch with both the BCCI and the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). The official said the SLC would be meeting today to finalise the new schedule.

Meanwhile, the South Africans -- currently on tour in Sri Lanka -- are said to be unhappy with the continuing uncertainty over venues and are not in favour of the new change.

When asked about the South African position, Mr Shah said he was not aware of the UCBSA's opinion on the issue.

''I can only say that the BCCI is talking to both the boards but I am not aware of the UCBSA's views on the issue,'' he said.

The Indian team is scheduled to reach Sri Lanka on August 10.

UNI PM AY VA RN1441