November 6, 2003	Thursday	Ramazan 10, 1424

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DHAKA, Nov 5: The England team say they will be guided by their national cricket board on the future of this month’s tour of Sri Lanka, where a state of emergency was declared on Wednesday.

“As far as we’re concerned the tour is going on,” a team spokesman said.

“It is an evolving situation and we will do whatever the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) tells us.”

England are on a Test and one-day tour of Bangladesh before travelling to Sri Lanka on Nov 13.

The ECB said in London on Wednesday it had not come to a decision on the future of the tour but was keeping a close watch on the situation in Sri Lanka.

“We’re working with the Foreign Office and we will take their advice on the matter,” an ECB spokeswoman said.

The British Foreign Office said on Wednesday travel advice to the country had not changed but they were monitoring the situation.

Captain Michael Vaughan told reporters in Dhaka the team had not discussed the Sri Lanka issue.

“We have had no discussions on Sri Lanka,” Vaughan said. “We’re here to play cricket. We’re not here to talk about these things, there are other people who will decide.”

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a state of emergency a day after sacking three ministers and suspending parliament.—Reuters