BIPIN DANI
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has allowed the Test players to have their wives and children on the upcoming New Zealand tour, it is learnt.
According to the well-placed sources in the SLC, this permission at present is granted to the Test team.
"Yes, the players' can have their immediate family members on this tour. The immediate family members include wives and children and parents. However, generally, married players take their wives and children on a long tour. So far we have not received any intimation about any players' family joining on the tour", the source said over the telephone from Colombo.
The players' training camp is getting over on Thursday and the Test team of 17-players will leave for New Zealand on 27th morning, i.e. 10-days prior to the first Test match, which will be played at Christchurch from March 9.
The visiting Sri Lankan team will play two Tests, three ODIs' and three T-20I.
At present only the red ball team is selected.
"We still have time for the white ball matches (commencing on March 25) and the squad for the white ball game will be announced. Few of the current Test squad will return and will be replaced by white ball players", the source confirmed.
"There has been no change in the present support staff of the red ball game. Those who last travelled with the team on the India tour are retained". However, few changes in the support staff are not ruled out for the white ball games.
Romesh Kaluwitharana is a tour selector.