Dilshan to leave IPL next week for England tour

Sri Lanka's new captain Tillakaratne Dilshan will leave the Indian Premier League (IPL) early to join the national squad in England May 11, three days before the first warm-up against Middlesex. The decision was taken after intense negotiations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) last week.


Tillakaratne Dilshan

"He will be there on May 11," said SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga.

Dilshan, who was keen to join the national team early, will now miss the last four group as well as knock-out matches of IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The decision will bring some relief for Dilshan, who wanted to spend time with the squad and new coach Stuart Law. Five Sri Lanka players, however, will stay on in the IPL and miss the Middlesex game.