Cricket: Tri-series involving Zimbabwe and West Indies later this year

After much deliberation the FTP tour to Zimbabwe will take place in September following the Sri Lanka’s series against Australia. 

The tour will see the Lankans getting involved in two Test matches and a tri-series which would also involve the West Indies. 

The tour will take place between the first week of October and will go on till the second week of November. 

Sri Lanka last played a Test series there was way back in 2004 where they beat Zimbabwe in both tests by innings -- by 240 runs and 254 runs respectively. 

Back home, the tour opener for the Australian visitors will be a three-day match at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium from 18 to 20 July. 

The main tour would contain three Tests (July 26-30 – Pallekelle, August 4-8 at Galle and August 13-17 in Colombo) and five ODIs (On August 21, 24, 28, 31 and September 4) in Colombo (3) Dambulla (2) and Pallekelle (1). 

They also play two T-20s on September 6 and 9 in Pallekelle and Colombo. 

It is also learned that there is not going to be a club three day under 23 tournament this year. 

Instead there are going to be two limited overs tournaments drawn up – ODIs and T-20 involving all 24 teams in the fray. 

Earlier the under 23 three-day club tournament had twenty-four teams but, they played in two tiers of 14 premier league clubs and ten emerging clubs, but, this year the authorities have amalgamated the two tiers. 

It is learnt that the original idea was to have an under 21 tournament in the same lines but, changed later under protests by the stakeholders. 

Ironically it is also learned the players fees will not be given to the players who are involved in the two tournaments.