Sri Lanka cancel Pakistan trip

Pakistan will still play a one-day series in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka have cancelled Pakistan's scheduled Test tour later this year to give their players time to recover from a tough fixture list.

Pakistan were pencilled in to play three Tests in June and July and take part in a triangular one-day series also involving New Zealand.

The Black Caps are then due to stay on for at least two Tests.

"The Sri Lankan board have informed us they are unable to host the Tests as they want to give their players a rest," said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Samiul Hasan.

"The Pakistan board has agreed to the new proposal that we will only tour Sri Lanka to take part in the triangular series."

Pakistan are currently taking on South Africa in the final match of a two-Test series in Cape Town.

South Africa v Pakistan latest

But Waqar Younis's side may now not play another Test until September, if India fail to fulfil a touring commitment in April.

Sri Lanka's worry over player burn-out must also place further doubt over a proposed triangular tournament to make up for India's government-enforced boycott.

England were the other team invited to take part in the one-day series, but coach Duncan Fletcher has similar worries that his players will be over-worked.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are, though, both scheduled to play in a triangular tournament in Sharjah a week after the World Cup ends on 23 March.