11 Feb 2011

Monsoon forces Cricket re-shuffle

6:14 am on 11 February 2011

The International Cricket Council has had to move World Cup warm-up matches from Sri Lanka's Pallekele stadium due to heavy monsoon rains.

The newly-built Pallekele venue in the island's central district was to host practice matches between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands on Saturday and Kenya and the Netherlands next week.

A new venue for the two matches will be announced shortly, the organisers say.

The ICC says the decision to shift the games will not affect World Cup matches.

Pallekele will be the venue for three World Cup matches, the first between New Zealand and Pakistan is scheduled for March 8.