England told to stay vigilant amid Sri Lanka crisis

Wednesday, 31 October 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

COLOMBO (Reuters): England will continue their tour of Sri Lanka as planned but the cricketers have been asked to be careful amid the political crisis prevailing in the island nation, a team spokesman said on Monday.

Sri Lanka was plunged into the crisis on Friday when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa to replace him, breaking up a fragile coalition governing the island.

England, who have won both the one-day and Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, play a two-day practice match in Colombo before heading to Galle which hosts the first of the three test matches from 6 November.

“We are aware of the developments and are in constant contact with the British High Commission,” Danny Rueben, a spokesman for the England cricket team, told Reuters.

“We are exercising vigilance and avoiding all demonstrations or large political gatherings.

“The test squad is preparing for the first test and have warm-up matches this week in Colombo. These matches will continue as advertised starting tomorrow from 10.00 a.m.”

Sri Lanka Cricket Media Manager Prasanna Rodrigo said there is no change in the security given to the English team. “Security that was given from the start of the series will be continued,” Rodrigo told Reuters.

England will play the second test in Kandy from 14 November and the third in Colombo from 23 November.