COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's sports authorities Tuesday ordered its cricketers playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League to return home for training ahead of next month's tour of England. Sports Minister Mahinadananda Althugamage said he wanted team members to prioritize the national side over the IPL, which is financially lucrative for players. “In future, national cricket players can participate in foreign tournaments only in a manner that will not affect practices of the Sri Lankan national team,” the ministry said in a statement. It said those who are selected for the three-Test series in England will have to return home for practice despite their commitments in the ongoing IPL Twenty20 tournament. Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara and his deputy Mahela Jayawardene are among 11 Sri Lankan national players in the IPL and at least five of them are tipped to be included in the squad for England. Rajasthan, Mumbai notch wins Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals thrashed Delhi Daredevils by six wickets to pocket its second successive victory in the Indian Premier League Tuesday. In another match, Mumbai Indians posted a nine-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bangalore with Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu making unbeaten half-centuries. Rajasthan rode on fine knocks by Rahul Dravid (38) and Johan Botha (39 not out) to overhaul a competitive 152-run target with nine balls to spare at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Ross Taylor (18 not out) capped off a fine victory for Rajasthan with a boundary and a six in the penultimate over to delight a sizeable home crowd. Delhi was in early trouble after skipper Virender Sehwag elected to bat but opener David Warner (54) and Venugopal Rao (60) posted responsible half-centuries to rescue their side. Australian spin legend Warne impressed the most among the bowlers, finishing with 2-17 but Tait proved expensive with his two wickets coming at the cost of 40 runs off four overs. Mumbai comfortably achieved a 141-run target at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in 18.3 overs, with Tendulkar sharing 110 runs off 85 balls for the unbroken second wicket with Rayudu (63). Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan hit an unbeaten 59 to anchor the Bangalore innings after the first-ball dismissal of opener Mayank Agarwal off paceman Lasith Malinga. Brief scores: Delhi Daredevils 151-6 in 20 overs (V. Rao 60, D. Warner 54; S. Warne 2-17, S. Tait 2-40) lost to Rajasthan Royals 152-4 in 18.3 overs (J. Botha 39 not out, R. Dravid 38) by six wickets. Royal Challengers Bangalore 140-4 in 20 overs (T. Dilshan 59 not out, AB de Villiers 38; K. Pollard 2-25, L. Malinga 2-32) lost to Mumbai Indians 143-1 in 18.3 overs (A. Rayudu 63 not out, S. Tendulkar 55 not out) by nine wickets.
