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Sri Lanka team will return to Sharjah cricket in November for the first time as undisputed World Champions. Until recently, Sri Lanka had a dismal record in Sharjah, the world's most popular neutral cricket venue.
Sri Lanka, along with New Zealand, India and Pakistan, will play in the quadrangular Champions trophy tournament which will be worked off on a league basis with the top tow teams clashing in the final for USD 50,000 first prize.
But Sri Lanka created history winning their first ever title in Sharjah when they won the Champions Trophy last year. But the scheduled visit in November will be Arjuna Ranatunga and his men's first tour of UAE as the kings of world cricket.
* Sri Lanka 'A' cricketers who have hardly had any continuous exposure at international level have reason to feel content with the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka arranging for an under 19 series with India on a reciprocal basis.
The series, the details of which have to be worked out, is expected to commence with Sri Lanka hosting India in February 1997 and then making a tour there in April the same year.
* With the Sri Lanka national team having a tight schedule with 41 Tests in the next four years against all eight Test-playing countries, Sri Lanka's second string cricketers are also covered adequately with a West Indies 'A' team due to tour Sri Lanka shortly.
The West Indies 'A' team, which include four Test caps, will tour here in October/November this year for three four-day 'Tests' and an equal number of one-day limited-overs.
(Abroad):
* Hamilton and Wellington have been identified as venues for Sri Lanka's two Tests against New Zealand early next year.
World champions Sri Lanka, who are down to play a total of 41 Tests within the next four years, will play two Tests and three one-day internationals during their tour of New Zealand in March, 1997. The three one day internationals between the two teams will be played in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Sri Lanka first toured New Zealand in 1983 and lost both the Test played in Christchurch and Wellington. In the absence of injured regular captain Duleep Mendis and his deputy Roy Dias, leg spinner D.Somachandra de Silva led the Sri Lanka team.