Cash strapped Lankans seek Indian solace
Its all looks a fairytale ending for Sri Lanka’s financial woes as the proposed FTP (ICC’S Future Tours Programme) Indian Test tour of Sri Lanka will become a reality in a different format in Late JuneJuly this year.
Last week the new Sri Lankan cricket management held a series of discussions with their Indian counterparts and agreed to convert the 3Testseries to amore profitable limi- ted overs series.
Though earlier there were speculations that even if a limited over series was on it would be a 3 ODI and 2 T20 series.
However the Lankan delegation now has managed to convince the BCCI to agree to a 5 ODI and 2 T20 series. Now it is up to the BCCI executive committee to ratify the agreed upon series.
The Lankan cricketers are due to complete their South African tour after today’s game and return to the is- land on the 24th.
Three days later -- on 27 January the Lankan cricketers once again will be on the move – this time go Down Under to take part in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series between Australia, India and Sri Lanka.
This tour will be eagerly waited by all Sri Lankan cricket enthusiasts as there are huge speculations about the impending changes in the team.
The Commonwealth Bank series will begin on February 5 with the game between Australia and India in Melbourne. The rest of the series will read as – (February) Wednesday 8, India vs Sri Lanka – Perth. Friday 10, Australia vs Sri Lanka at Perth. Sunday 12, Australia vs India at Adelaide. Tuesday 14, India vs Sri Lanka at Adelaide. Friday 17, Australia vs Sri Lanka at Sydney.
Sunday 19, Australia vs India at Brisbane. Tuesday 21, India vs Sri Lanka at Brisbane. Friday 24, Australia vs Sri Lanka at Hobart. Sunday 26, Australia vs India at Sydney. Tuesday 28, India vs Sri Lanka at Ho- bart, (March) Friday 2, Australia vs Sri Lanka at Melbourne. Sunday 4, 1st final at Brisbane, Tuesday 6, 2nd final at Adelaide and Thursday 8 third final at Adelaide.
Thereafter the Lankan cricketers will fly over to Bangladesh to take part in the Asia Cup. The Asia Cup draw reads as: (All matches will be played in Dhaka in March) Monday 12, Bangladesh vs Pakistan. Tuesday 13 India vs Sri Lanka, Thursday 15 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Friday 16 Bangladesh vs India, Sunday 18 India vs Pakistan, Tuesday 20 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka. The final will be played on Thursday 22.
Prior to the Indian series against India in June Sri Lanka will also play two Tests against England in April and a tree Test, 5 ODI and 2 T-20 series against Pakistan also at home.