The Lankan cricket delegation which was on a bridge building mission to India had a fruitful round of talks with its BCCI counterparts, the Sunday Times learns.
The delegation led by Interim Committee Chairman Upali Dharmadasa and including Secretary Prakash Schaffter and IC Member Sidath Wettimuny who is in charge of cricket affairs sought ways of reviving Limited Overs series which the BCCI had struck off the list when it drew up Indias Future Tours Programme recently.
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| The last time the two teams met was at the Cricket World Cup 2011 final at Mumbai |
At present the 2012 July-August series which is billed to be played in Sri Lankan contains only three Test matches – a situation that the cash-strapped Sri Lanka Cricket can hardly afford.
During the discussions, the BCCI had pointed out that it would consider changing the itinerary if SLC agreed to do away with the Test series and play three One-Day internationals and three T-20 games.
The BCCI’s concern at present is that by July 2012 the Indian cricketers would have played 17 Test matches and the player fatigue would be a problem to the administration if the tour is extended than the scheduled.
However, the SLC has counter proposed that the series should contain five One-day Internationals and two or three T-20s.
The July-August India-Sri Lanka series coincides with the new tender call for television rights. The current contract with Ten Sports is due to expire by mid 2012. Hence, SLC officials hope the ODI series with India would be a good bargaining point to strike a new deal which may fetch around US$ 8-12 million for such a series.
Sri Lanka last met India in any type of cricket encounter on April 12 at Mumbai in the Cricket World Cup final which India comfortably won.
SLCs relations with its rich big brother -- the BCCI -- have been on the decline in recent times and the present Interim Committee whose term ends on November 14 is making a serious effort to patch up the strained relations.
Meanwhile, it is also learned that the team led by Upali Dharmadasa is likely to come in uncontested at the forthcoming election to Sri Lanka cricket. The games governing body ICC stipulated in April this year that elections to every government-controlled body in their full member ranks should be held in 2012 or else they would start imposing sanctions against them by 2013.
Upali Dharmadasa’s elder brother, Jayantha, who headed the SLC Interim Committee from 2004 to 2007 was also tipped to be a major runner for the chair, but he has reportedly changed his mind at the post.The other contestant – parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala also may not forward his application or a nominee as he is concentrating on his political work.
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