England’s tour of India which is scheduled for early next year may be affected by the uprising COVID-19 cases and Sri Lanka board has offered to conduct the series if the necessity arises. England and India have a five-match Test series scheduled for the start of next year.
England are set to tour Sri Lanka in January to conclude their postponed series in March this year. The reports suggest that England could stay back in Sri Lanka after their series to play another against India.
Earlier, India and England were to play Test fixtures in September-October but the series has been postponed due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.
With Sri Lanka’s Low Covid-19 Cases It Can Be A Good Destination For India To Host Its International Matches
The SLC have expressed their willingness to host the England-India test series next year. With worsening state of Covid-19 cases in India, Sri Lanka could be the perfect venue for India to host its international matches till the conditions get better.
“The possibility of England staying back after their two Tests in Sri Lanka to complete the series against India has been given some thought after SLC came up with the suggestion,” according to a report in ‘The Island’.
England were in Colombo in March for two weeks preparing for a two-match Test series when the global pandemic alarm was alerted worldwide and they had to fly back home.
BCCI Will Not Entertain Such Proposal Right Now
A senior BCCI official told PTI that he has not heard of any formal proposal being sent by the SLC in this regard, and it is highly unlikely that the board would listen to it because the series is still four months away
“At this point, the BCCI is not even entertaining such a proposal as it is still four months away,” the official said on conditions of anonimity.
Sri Lanka has already lifted the lockdown and schools have reopened from last week, as the COVID-19 situation is under control in the Island. Bangladesh are to tour Sri Lanka in October to play a test series which was postponed in July.