Mumbai, May 5: The five-match India-Sri Lanka veteran's cricket series has run into rough weather. The back-to-back matches scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday at the Brabourne Stadium, stands cancelled. The failure of the Veterans' Cricketers Association of India (VCAI) to procure a contract letter from Doordarshan (DD), who were to televise the matches, is seen as the reason behind this sudden development.VCAI secretary Radhey Shyam Pareekh confirmed the cancellation of the two matches.
The telecast of the matches holds prime importance for the sponsors, who fuel the series. Interestingly, of the two matches held so far in the series, only the Jaipur encounter held yesterday was televised.
``As it would take some time for me to go to Delhi and sign the contract, the matches slated for tomorrow and Thursday stands cancelled. At the moment only the last match of the series to be held on May 10 at Rasayani, near Panvel, Navi Mumbai will be staged as per the original schedule. We are trying to arrangefor another match on May 12 at the Brabourne Stadium,'' informed Pareekh while speaking to The Indian Express.
However, the fate of the May 12 encounter depends on the approval of the Sri Lankans', who were to arrive late tonight. Barring which, the series may well end up to be a three-match affair.
The series stands level at 1-1 with India winning the first match at Jodhpur and the Lankans claiming the second at Jaipur yesterday.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
