Fresh discussions during end July on fate of 142nd Roy-Tho
Both Royal and S. Thomas' colleges are keen to give their present cricketers the opportunity of entering the Roy-Tho history books - File pic
Fresh rounds of discussions are likely to commence towards the end of this month to decide the fortunes and fates of the 142th Battle of the Blues big match cricket encounter between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College.
According to available information, the Joint Organising Committee (JOC) of the Royal-Thomian is keen to play the three-day big match encounter within the next three months, given the facts that both teams are now on equal terms without any cricket activities during the past two months.
The oldest running cricket big match of Sri Lanka, and the second oldest in the world, is usually played during the second week of March annually. But since last year’s sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled by health restrictions and other limitations, the three-day game had to be postponed more than once.
The final arrangements made by the JOC of the Royal-Thomian was the match to be played on May 6, 7 and 8 at the Sooriyawewa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota strictly adhering to health guidelines.
But the game was put off indefinitely without further details after four players from the S. Thomas’ camp were tested positive while being inside a ‘bio bubble’ in a hotel near the school in Mt. Lavinia. The Thomian squad consisted of 22 players and 11 officials had entered a ‘bio security environment’ (BSE) created for the match, on or after April 21. No sooner the four positive players were identified the entire squad was put under quarantine for 14 days, which ended on May 10, two days after the supposed three-day game ends, had it being played.
The Royal College squad too entered a similar ‘bio bubble’ in the hostel facility of the school on April 23, and remained safe without any positive cases.
More than two months have passed through since then and during this period members of the JOC of the Royal-Thomian have not met for any fresh initiative about the fate of the big match. Currently members of the JOC are said to have engaged in informal discussions to officially recommence the organising the 142nd Battle of the Blues encounter.
Decisions that were already made and in place are likely to remain unchanged and the fresh rounds of discussions will be to decide the new dates and the venue, if it is necessary, and any new additions or amendments to the health guidelines.
The previous plans made were that the teams, coaches and support staff along with umpires and match officials were to follow bio secure environment (BSE) protocols, in line with the COVID-19 health and safety guidelines under the supervision of Southern Province and Hambantota Regional health services prior to the match.
The big match encounter was originally planned for April 8, 9 and 10 at Sooriyawewa, but was postponed due to various common reasons due to the pandemic. It was later rescheduled for May 6, 7 and 8 before being put off for the second time.