Packed scheduled for cricketers in 2022
Sri Lanka are set to host Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Australia in the year 2022 where the national cricket team will play at least 10 Test matches, 19 One Day Internationals and 13 T20 Internationals in a packed year. This include the ICC T20 World Cup that is scheduled to take place in Australia and the Asia Cup that is scheduled to be held in Pakistan.
The year commences with the home series against Zimbabwe. The limited overs comprises of three One Day internationals (ODIs) and three T20 internationals (T20Is). The series was initially scheduled to be held in 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the tour had to be rescheduled for January 2022.
Soon after the conclusion of the Zimbabwe series they will embark on a tour to Australia to play five T20Is. In their previous tour Down Under in 2019 they had to return home with the embarrassment of a series whitewash against the formidable Australians. However, the Lankan Lions will be desperately hoping for a change in their fortunes. This series will be a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup that is scheduled to be held in Australia in October.
Then India is set to host Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series and a three-match
T20I series. The two match Test series will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship.
After a hiatus of a month Sri Lanka will travel to Bangladesh for a twomatch Test series in May. Soon after the Bangladesh Test series concludes there will be the home series against Australia. The series will be an important one for Sri Lanka as they will be hosting Australia after five years. The series comprises of two Test matches, five ODIs and three T20Is.
During their previous visit in 2016, Sri Lanka won the Test series ( 3- 0) but Australia managed to bounce back in the shorter formats to win the ODI series and the T20I series comprehensively.
Soon after the Australians leave the island in July, Pakistan will arrive for a bilateral series in the country after a gap of eight years. The two teams will play a two-match Test series and a threematch ODI series. Pakistan tasted success in all three formats during their previous tour in 2015. They will be hoping to extend their winning streak on Lankan soil during the impending tour next year.
Despite the hectic schedule of international cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is hopeful that they will be able to have the third edition of the Lanka Premier League soon after the Pakistan series. In September the Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan, While the national team will be in Pakistan, the Under-23 team will be in China for the Asian Games.
After the Asia Cup the Lankans will leave for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Soon after the T20 World Cup they will leave to New Zealand for a two-match Test series and a three- match ODI series. Sri Lanka is set to conclude their eventful year with a five-match series against India (in India). The series will not be a part of the ongoing World Cup Super League.