Strike greets Lankans

DHAKA, Oct 22: World Cup Champions Sri Lanka, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, arrived amid an opposition-sponsored strike here today for the Wil...

DHAKA, Oct 22: World Cup Champions Sri Lanka, led by Arjuna Ranatunga, arrived amid an opposition-sponsored strike here today for the Wills Mini World Cup cricket tournament beginning on Saturday.

The 14-member Lankan squad was escorted to its hotel by military police personnel as there had been sporadic incidents of violence in the capital since morning, police sources said. Opposition activists and government supporters were involved in clashes after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) called a day-long strike for today. Sri Lanka open their campaign with a quarter-final match against the winner of the New Zealand-Zimbabwe tie scheduled for Saturday.

Ambrose withdraws: Curtly Ambrose has pulled out of West Indies’ squad. The fast bowler asked West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICBC) if he could miss the limited overs tournament “due to a matter of grave importance which needs his urgent personal attention”. WICBC gave him permission yesterday.

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Ambrose, fined 10 per cent of his match fee forverbally abusing an umpire in a Caribbean One-day competition semifinal last Saturday, is reported to be dealing with hurricane damage to his home in Antigua. Guyana paceman Reon King will replace Ambrose.

DD to telecast Doordarshan will telecast live all the eight matches of the Wills International Cup cricket commencing from October 24 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. The schedule of the telecast: (from 1345-1740 hours, 1810-2030 hrs: DD-1. 2028-2130 hrs: DD2. 2120-2220 hrs or till the end: DD1).

October 24: A: New Zealand vs Zimbabwe. October 25: B: England vs South Africa. October 26: C: Sri Lanka vs A. October 28: D: India vs Australia. October 29: E: Pakistan vs West Indies. October 30: Winner of B vs winner of C. October 31: Winner of D vs E. November 1: Final.