* Zimbabwe Cricket Board re-confirmed that their national team will make a full Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.
Official sources said that Zimbabwe will play two Tests and three one day internationals on tour, apart from two side games. Zimbabwe Cricket Board is yet to receive the details on the tour itinerary from Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe team, which is currently hosting New Zealand , is scheduled to arrive in Colombo on January 2 next year.
* Pakistan's regular captain Wasim Akram returned from Hong Kong after steering Pakistan to victory in the sixes tournament and immediately vowed to be back in action shortly. He will strengthen home team when Pakistan hosts four-nation Jinnah Cup tournament which also feature South Africa, West Indies and the World champions Sri Lanka.
Akram said that he will be available for the second Test against South Africa starting on October 16 at Sheikhupura. Akram said he underwent a successful operation in London and was now feeling much better. He said previously he just couldn't move his arm but he has overcome that problem now. Akram, the only bowler to have taken 300 wickets in Tests and one-day internationals, said before going to Hong Kong he was bowling three overs a day. ``Slowly I will increase my overs and hopefully in the next 10 days I will be able to play a first-class match to further test my fitness,'' he said.
* Sri Lanka has been drawn in group 'B' along with New Zealand, Canada, India, Netherlands and the West Indies for the 1997 Women's World cup cricket tournament to be worked off in India in December. The Group 'A' comprise England, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Pakistan and Denmark.
The opening ceremony will be held on December 5 and the preliminary round matches will commence on December 10 where Sri Lanka will take on the hosts India, in Gauhati. On the same day, New Zealand will meet Canada in New Delhi while West Indies take on Netherlands, also in Delhi.
Sri Lanka's other preliminary round matches will be played on December 12 (vs. West Indies in New Delhi), December 14 (vs. New Zealand in Jalandhar), December 16 (vs Canada in Jaipur) and on December 18 (vs. Netherlands). The quarter finals will be played from December 21 to 23 and the 'semis' on December 24 and 26. The final will take place on December 28.
* South Africa 'A' and Sri Lanka 'A' have arranged unofficial Test series on a reciprocal basis. First, South Africa 'A' will make a three-Test tour of Sri Lanka starting in late January next year.
This series will take place immediately after South Africa hosts the 1998 Youth World Cup in January next year. Sri Lanka 'A' will then make a similar tour of South Africa in October, 1999. Prior to their tour of Sri Lanka, South Africa will host the West Indies 'A' (in November/ December, this year) and England 'A' will tour Sri Lanka (in January next year). (Home):
* World champions Sri Lanka face an acid Test when they tour Pakistan for the four-nation Jinnah Cup tournament and India immediately for a three-Test series next month. The Jinnah Cup tournament is organised by the BCCP to mark Pakistan's silver jubilee year of Independence. Sri Lanka open the tournament on November 1 with a game against West Indies, but will have to wait until November 5 for their next engagement which is against South Africa.
Immediately after this game, they are scheduled to take on hosts Pakistan the following day (November 6). If Sri Lanka qualify, they will play the final on November 8. After the lung-opener on November 1, Sri Lanka will be subjected to three tough games within the space of four days, which is a lot to ask for from any team. While the other two participants South Africa and West Indies also have matches on successive days, the draw favours host Pakistan nicely.
Sri Lanka under 19 cricketers will play seven matches against their Indian counterparts on their five weeks cricket tour commencing November 23.
Three four-day under 19 Tests at Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad are scheduled along with three one-day internationals at Rajkot, Baroda and Pune.
The tour opens with a 3-day match at Hyderabad.
The tour will coincide with the senior side's tour to India which takes place from November 12 to December 8.
The tour itinerary released by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board yesterday: Nov 23: Arrival, Nov 25-27: 3-day match at Hyderabad, Nov 30-Dec 3: 1st under 19 Test at Hyderabad, Dec 6-9: 2nd under 19 Test at Bangalore, Dec 12-15: 3rd under 19 Test at Ahmedabad, Dec 18: 1st under 19 ODI at Rajkot, Dec 21: 2nd under 19 ODI at Baroda, Dec 24: 3rd ODI at Pune, Dec 25: Departure. - [S.T.]
Old boys at cricket
St. Peter's College Old Boys' Union will hold a six-a-side old boys' cricket carnival to celebrate their 70th anniversary on October 19 at St. Peter's College grounds, Bambalapitiya from 8.30 a.m.
Eight old boys' association sides have agreed to send star-studded teams to participate in the event - St. Joseph's, St. Benedict's, St. Anthony's, Kandy, Ananda, Nalanda, Royal, S. Thomas', Mt. Lavinia and St. Peter's.
Trophies will be awarded to the best batsman, best bowler, best fielder, Man of the final, Man of the tournament and the winning team.