The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced that following discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Sri Lanka will host the A tour programmed for March 2005. The ECB has today announced a 14-player England A squad to tour the UAE and Sri Lanka.

England A will play two four-day matches against Sri Lanka A, before competing in a one-day triangular tournament with their hosts and Pakistan A. All matches in Sri Lanka remain scheduled for Colombo.

Prior to arriving in Sri Lanka, England A will play four one-day (D/N) matches against UAE at the International Stadium, Sharjah.

England A will arrive in Dubai on Wednesday 24th February and leave Colombo on Wednesday 30th March.

The England A squad are:

Ian Bell (Warwickshire) Captain

Rikki Clarke (Surrey)

Richard Dawson (Yorkshire)

Paul Franks (Nottinghamshire)

Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire)

David Harrison (Glamorgan)

Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire)

Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)

Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)

Michael Powell (Glamorgan)

Matthew Prior (Sussex)

Owais Shah (Middlesex)

Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire)

Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)

Rod Marsh (Coach)

Nigel Laughton (Manager)

Stuart Osborne (Physiotherapist)

The tour itinerary: UAE

Sat 26th February One-Day v UAE (D/N) Main Stadium, Sharjah
Sun 27th February One-Day v UAE (D/N) Main Stadium, Sharjah
Wed 2nd March One-Day v UAE (D/N) Main Stadium, Sharjah
Friday 4th March One-Day v UAE (D/N) Main Stadium, Sharjah


The tour itinerary: Sri Lanka

Mon 7th – Thurs 10th March 4-day Match v Sri Lanka A Colombo
Sun 13th – Wed 16th March 4-day Match v Sri Lanka A Colombo

Triangular Tournament:
Friday 18th March England A warm-up match Colombo
Sun 20th March Sri Lanka A v Pakistan A Colombo
Mon 21st March England A v Sri Lanka A Colombo
Wed 23rd March England A v Pakistan A Colombo
Thurs 24th March Sri Lanka A v Pakistan A Colombo
Sat 26th March England A v Sri Lanka A Colombo
Sun 27th March England A v Pakistan A Colombo
Tues 29th March Final Colombo