Sri Lanka - West Indies ODIs shifted to Colombo

Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to shift the venues for next week's three-match One Day International series against the West Indies to Colombo as previous venues are to be handed over to International Cricket Council in preparation for the World Cup 2011, an official has said.

Secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Nishantha Ranatunga has said that the matches will be played during the day at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo.

The West Indies team will arrive in the country on January 28. The series is to start on January 31.

Earlier the ODIs had been scheduled as day-night matches at the World Cup venues, Sooriyawewa stadium in Hambanthota and at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

"The World Cup venues for matches have been officially handed over to the ICC () this month and ICC rules allow us to practice but not play until the World Cup starts," Sri Lanka Cricket media manager Brian Thomas has told AFP.

The ODI series was scheduled to play in Hambanthota after the rain-drenched Test series with the West Indies in December but postponed due to incessant rains across the country.

Sri Lanka and West Indies drew the three-match Test series 0-0 after the final match, in Pallekele, was abandoned due to rain.

The ODI series next week will be used as a warm up by both teams in preparation for the upcoming World Cup partly hosted by Sri Lanka next month.

Sri Lanka will play its first of the World Cup matches against Canada on February 20 at the Sooriyawewa stadium in Hambanthota.