Cricket: Worried Sri Lankans may abandon tour

Sri Lankan team manager Brendon Kuruppu says cricket is no longer at the front of players’ minds. Picture / Fotopress

The Sri Lankan cricket team's tour of New Zealand was effectively placed in limbo last night as distraught players sought more information on their tsunami-ravaged homeland.

Team manager Brendon Kuruppu said the Sri Lankan cricket board would hold talks overnight with New Zealand Cricket authorities, and confirmed that the tour could be called off.

The Sri Lankan players, scheduled to play the Black Caps in the second one-day international at Napier tomorrow, cancelled practice yesterday and remained off-limits to the media, amid speculation that many believed they should be heading home.

Mr Kuruppu confirmed an earlier report that the mothers of two players had been injured, and that a relative of another had been killed, but refused to identify the worst-affected, saying it was not appropriate.

He said the magnitude of the disaster had horrified the team and the prospect of playing cricket tomorrow was not looming as a major priority.

"We had a tough night last night because of the problems with communications in Sri Lanka," said Mr Kuruppu.

"The telephone system is jammed and some of our players haven't been able to check on everyone they need to.

"We're trying our best to get information but it's fair to say that cricket isn't at the front of our minds at the moment."

Mr Kuruppu said the team had been in touch with their cricket board, who were due to have an emergency meeting last night and convey their thoughts to NZ Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden.

"At the moment we're still seeking information and it's too early to make any comment on what will happen next."

Mr Kuruppu said the stories filtering back to the players were of unimaginable scenes at home, of an ever-escalating death toll and of a secondary crisis unfolding.

"We're really worried about the immediate future of the people back home.

"There are reports of more tidal wave warnings, so it's very hard for us to stay calm.

"But our sympathies are with everyone back at home.

"They need water. From what we hear, the lack of water is the major problem in most of the affected areas. There's absolutely no drinking water, and they need help fast."

Mr Snedden said yesterday there was no easy answer to the question of whether the tour, or even tomorrow night's game, would go ahead.

He drove from Auckland to Napier yesterday to lend assistance to the Sri Lankans, and was expecting to be in telephone talks with the players' board overnight and today.

"It's a matter of trying to find a sensible solution to what has been an incredibly difficult and stressful situation.

"At the moment, the short answer is that, no, I don't know about Napier."

Mr Sneddon said NZ Cricket's initial priority was for the well-being of the Sri Lankan team. Care was being taken to respect the sensitivities involved.

"Our primary aim is just to provide support for people who are guests in our country."