Australia tour key to retain Asia Cup hosting rights
As the country plunges into unprecedented economic collapse, political crisis and street protests against soaring costs of everything from food to fuel, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is banking on the Australian series to convince their South Asian counterparts to let them retain hosting rights to the Asia Cup.
Recent events in Sri Lanka have threatened to shift the tournament elsewhere as India, the original hosts of this edition, have raised concerns over Sri Lanka’s ability to proceed owing to the financial crisis and civil unrest. India has said that they would discuss the possibilities of playing it safe and unhindered in Sri Lanka during the finals of this year’s Indian Premier League.
“The Australian series is the key,” said Samantha Dodanwela, Member of the SLC Executive Committee. “All these series and tournaments are of great importance to us, the SLC and the country at large, as Sri Lanka is facing a severe foreign currency crisis. So we hope Australia, as they have promised, will commit to the tour and help us out at this juncture”.
Cricket Australia recently said its all-formats tour of Sri Lanka is going ahead despite their government’s advice to nationals to reconsider travel to Sri Lanka following unrest. However, they refused a request by SLC to make amend to the tour schedule. The request was to play the Test series first in order to bide time, knowing that conducting day/night games will be difficult at this stage.
Australia’s cricketers are due to arrive in June to play three T20 internationals, five ODIs and two Test matches. The Australian A team tour is also planned at the same time. The A team will feature in two limited-over and as many four-day games.
“There are questions being asked whether we should go ahead with these tours when the country is facing its biggest financial crisis. But what people don’t understand is the contribution cricket makes to the economy. They should realise how much foreign currency we bring into the country. So it’s important that we go ahead with these series and tournaments under any circumstances,” said Dodanwela, who was recently appointed as Director of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Following the Australian series, Sri Lanka will host Pakistan who have assured their commitment to the tour, followed by the third edition of the LPL. Asia Cup is scheduled from August 27 – to September 11.
Sri Lanka has not hosted a multi-nation tournament since the 2012 World T-20. The Asia Cup involves the five full members; Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A qualifying round will be played prior to the tournament to select the remaining team.
Meanwhile, the LPL is likely to be advanced by a few days, the Tournament Director said, adding that they are working on conducting it despite the current crisis in the country. Though the starting date has been fixed for August 1, 2022, it might now be started on July 26.
The five-team tournament will see its first-round matches being played in Colombo, minimizing all logistical issues arising from acute fuel shortage, before heading to Hambantota for the knock-outs.
Dodanwela said the player draft would be held in early June at the conclusion of the club T20 tournament. The club T20 tournament will start today and will conclude on June 6, 2022.
However, these series and tournaments will be played amidst severe economic crisis with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe warning of a food shortage by August and pleading for assistance.