The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Sri Lanka's tour called off

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Sri Lanka's tour called off

LONDON, DEC. 29 . Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand has been postponed following the tsunami that devastated the southern Asian nation, the International Cricket Council said on Wednesday.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said the council was comfortable with the decision of both boards to postpone the series.

"The impact of the tsunami on Sri Lanka has been devastating and we fully understand the decision taken by the boards to postpone the series,'' Speed said in a statement.

``In this situation where two of our members have agreed to postpone the series there is no issue of fines or compensation.''

Sri Lanka Cricket also issued a statement saying the tour was being postponed after stating on Tuesday the players wanted to return home. ``Taking into consideration the tsunami disaster Sri Lanka faced, Sri Lanka Cricket decided today to cancel the ongoing tour of New Zealand,'' the statement said.

``On a request made to New Zealand Cricket, by Sri Lanka Cricket, New Zealand Cricket and Sri Lanka Cricket agreed to reschedule the tour at some appropriate time in the future.

``The Sri Lankan cricketers have always stood by the people of this country in good times and bad times. The cancellation of this tour will enable the Sri Lankan cricketers to join Sri Lanka Cricket to assist the victims affected by this grave disaster.''— Reuters

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