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A bungling on the part of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) has led to Sri Lanka going to England to defend the World Cup without a liaison officer of their own choice.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the World Cup Cricket Committee (WCCC) requested the Cricket Boards of all participating countries to nominate a suitable United Kingdom-based person for the post.

The right of appointment however rested with the ECB and the World Cup committee.

It is reliably understood that the BCCSL Executive Committee was misdirected into sending B.H. Perera's name as the nominee. Perera is at present the press liaison officer of the BCCSL.

Perera's name was however rejected by the ECB and World Cup committee and instead, two Englishmen have been appointed in his place - Alex Johnston (liaison officer) and Peter Smith (baggage master).

We understand from UK sources that contracts have been signed and finalised on these appointments.

The BCCSL are not without any qualified people in the United Kingdom to undertake such a post.

A long-standing Sri Lankan resident in the UK, Alan Wahab, who is also a member of the BCCSL's representative committee in the UK, did an admirable job as liaison officer of the team when they toured England last year.

Tickets moving fast

Over 500 tickets have already been sold priced at 55 pounds sterling each for the World Cup '99 charity dinner organised by the BCCSL representative committee in the UK to welcome Arjuna Ranatunga and the world champions.

The dinner is scheduled to be held at Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London on May 1.

According to a press release from London, nearly 1,000 guests from the world of sport, business, travel trade, airline industry, and diplomats are expected to grace the occasion.

National carrier Air Lanka will fly the national team to London, and also top musical group the Gypsies who will provide the entertainment. Proceeds of the dinner dance will go to raise funds for the development of cricket in the Dambulla region, states the communique.