Cricket: Worried Sri Lankan team to discuss tour future

A Sri Lankan man clears debris from his home that was destroyed by tidal waves on a coastal area in Colombo. Picture / Reuters

Sri Lankan cricket team management will meet with their players later today and consult with their national board to decide whether their New Zealand tour will continue after devastating floods hit their homeland.

Manager Brendon Kuruppu told NZPA this morning the team would fly to Napier as planned just after noon today before any decision was made. He wouldn't say whether cancelling the tour was a likely option.

The players had a "nightmare" after news of the tidal waves and floods which killed over 3500 people yesterday, soon after their seven-wicket loss to New Zealand in the tour opener at Eden Park here.

Kuruppu also revealed a player's mother was among the injured after she was hit by floodwater, although he wouldn't name the player or how serious the mother's injuries were.

"We are really worried but we need to speak to the guys and see how we take it (the tour) from here," Kuruppu said today.

"It's a disaster in Sri Lanka, we're in shock and having a nightmare."

Kuruppu said nearly all the team had now made contact with their families back home, which has eased their minds.

His phone had been ringing non-stop, and he was now waiting until later in the day to speak again with his Sri Lankan board back home to discuss further plans.

"I need to think a lot about it," he said.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to meet New Zealand in the second one-day international at Napier's McLean Park on Wednesday.

- NZPA