Money row sparks change of stadium

By RICHARD BOOCK

The Sri Lankan Government have transferred New Zealand's one-day games away from Dambulla International Stadium amid fears that the matches could be disrupted by an on-going financial dispute.

New Zealand were scheduled to play Sri Lanka and India on Wednesday and Thursday at Dambulla, but those games, as well as one other, will now be staged at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka's Daily News said the move was taken after the Sports Ministry received wind of an alleged plot to sabotage the one-dayers with a court injunction.

Sports Ministry secretary Dr Prathap Ramanujan said it was considered prudent to make the necessary transfer arrangements immediately, rather than waiting to see if the threats would be carried out.

"We received information that some people were going to seek an injunction to disrupt the games," he said.

The Sri Lankan board reportedly still owes money to construction company Sierra Constructors, but is unable to make the final payments until allegations of financial mismanagement have been properly investigated.

Board sources have claimed their hands are tied by the attorney-general's department, which ordered the payment freeze.

The stadium, built in an astonishing 165 days, costing about 400 million rupees ($20.57 million), provided an ideal pitch for Sri Lanka's lethal spin-bowling combinations on Wednesday night, when the hosts made the most of the slow, turning surface to beat NZ by 16 runs.

After their two extra games at R Premadasa Stadium, the New Zealanders will play at another Colombo venue the following week when they square off against Sri Lanka and India at the Singhalese Sports Club.