The novel COVID-19 or coronavirus has stopped the daily busy life of the world, including cricket. While international cricket is currently off due to this pandemic, Sri Lanka is focusing to resume the game. The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has recently confirmed that they have proposed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for their upcoming international tours as the country can restart the international cricket from mid-July.
The FTP schedule says that India will tour to Sri Lanka for the three-match ODI series and three-match T20I series. Their ODI series will be the part of the 2020–22 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will tour to Sri Lanka for the three-match Test series, which will be the part of the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship.
The SLC has confirmed that all these upcoming home international series haven’t been postponed yet. While they have sent their wishes to start their home international campaign from July, they are waiting for the responses from both the countries.
SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo, “We have made inquiries from both the India and Bangladesh boards and are awaiting a response from them. As of now, those series haven’t been postponed.”
Initial responses from India and Bangladesh after Sri Lanka Cricket’s approach
The BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has recently claimed that they have no problem with this Sri Lanka tour if the government policies support to travel and the players get safety and healthy environment.
However, another BCCI official feels that the Sri Lanka tour is almost impossible in mid-July, according to the present crisis. But he also believes that the Indian team can tour to Sri Lanka in a few months later.
On the other hand, the BCB is in discussion with the SLC about their forthcoming tour. The fate of this tour is much dependent on Bangladesh’ travel restrictions and both countries’ quarantine protocols.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo, “We have to look at traveling restrictions in Bangladesh, and the quarantine protocols in both countries. We are in discussion [with the SLC], so all the factors will come into play. We have to be mindful of the players’ readiness, too, but that’s going to happen. The players will get back to training, but we have to figure out other details about this tour.”
England was the last team who toured in Sri Lanka last March. However, they didn’t start the two-match Test series in that tour as when they were busy in the second and last tour game, they returned to the home amid coronavirus outbreak. This postponed Test series now can be played in January 2021.