West Indies [Images] will tour England [Images] next year instead of Sri Lanka [Images].
"The West Indies Cricket Board has today confirmed to the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] the West Indies will tour in April and May 2009 to replace the tour scheduled by Zimbabwe," the ECB said in a statement on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka had been first choice to replace Zimbabwe after their tour was cancelled in June under instructions from the British government.
However, many of Sri Lanka's leading players are contracted to compete in the Indian Premier League [Images] (IPL) around the same time.
West Indies will play two Tests in England at Lord's and Durham followed by three one-day internationals.
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