Sri Lanka still hopeful of rescheduling India and Bangladesh tours
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have not given up hopes of playing India and Bangladesh at home on a rescheduled date this year after country’s cricket calendar was put on complete jeopardy following COVID-19 outbreak.
The Indians are due to play three ODIs and three T20s from June 24 to July 11 in Sri Lanka followed by a three Test series involving Bangladesh from July 23 to August 12.
Even though the Indian series is yet to be officially cancelled, there remains no chance of playing it on schedule with restricted travel. The Sri Lankan board say they are constantly engaged in discussions with their Indian counterparts to reschedule it for a later date – either this year or in 2021.
“We are looking at alternative dates to fix the tour – either towards the end of this year or next year. But rescheduling depends on so many factors and we have to take all of them into consideration,” said the Board’s CEO Ashley de Silva.
The fate of the Bangladesh tour is no different. With the Bangladesh cricketers yet to resume training following the long break from cricket, there’s little chance of playing it on schedule or even on a window suggested by the SLC. SLC has asked Bangladesh to consider playing the series in September. Bangladesh Cricket Board has not responded yet.
Sri Lanka earlier postponed their two-match Test series against England to be played in March this year to January next year following the virus outbreak and also postponed the South African limited over series scheduled for May/June.