Sri Lanka, along with South Africa and England, have been drawn to play in the three-nation tournament to be played in England in August next year. The tournament will take place before Sri Lanka's one-off Test against England at the Oval from August 27 to 31. Sri Lanka also plans to host its Independence Cup tournament in September next year for which three other teams will be invited.
South Africa will take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Triangular one-day international series in Trent Bridge on August 14, next year. Since winning the world cup in March last year, Sri Lanka met South Africa once in a one day international where Arjuna Ranatunga and his men an exciting Sameer Cup match in Nairobi by two wickets. The three participating teams England, South Africa and Sri Lanka will play each other once on a league basis and the top two teams will advance to the final to be played at Lord's on September 20.
Sri Lanka's other tournament match will be against England on August 16 at Lord's. The third league match between England and South Africa will be played on August 18 at Edgbaston. All matches will have reserve days and the three-nation tournament will commence after the fifth and final Test between England and South Africa which ends on August 10 in Headingley.
Sri Lanka's international season for 1998 will commence with a two-Test and three-match one-day international home series against Zimbabwe in January/ February. This will be followed by a tour to South Africa for two Tests (in Cape Town from March 19 to 23 and in Centurion park from March 27 to 31) and a triangular tournament against South Africa and Pakistan. Prior to the summer tour of England, Sri Lanka will host New Zealand for three Tests and three one day internationals in May/ June, 1998.
In September next year, Sri Lanka are also scheduled to host Australia for a three-Test and four-match one day international series. At present, there are no scheduled international fixtures for Sri Lanka from October to December, 1998 before they host India for a three-Test series in January, 1999.