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Sri Lanka women and Pakistan women bilateral series will not be going ahead in October this year following a change in management at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Sources within the PCB have said that they are finding it tough to arrange the games on short notice, given the administrative changes within the board. Some of the Pakistan women players are also unavailable for the series against Sri Lanka women.

Talks about a potential tour of Pakistan by the Sri Lankan women’s team later this month have hit a stumbling block following a change in management at the PCB. As a result, the series will not be taking place in October, but both boards are working to find a window for it before the 2022 ODI World Cup.

Sri Lanka haven't played since the T20 World Cup in February-March last year Getty Images — Sri Lanka haven’t played since the T20 World Cup in February-March last year. Getty Images.

Sri Lanka’s Proposed Series Against Pakistan Women Deferred

SLC had seemed confident of the tour going ahead, with three WODIs and a practice game all but rubber-stamped. It would have been Sri Lanka’s first taste of international cricket since the T20 World Cup in February-March last year.

“These were ongoing discussions, but with the change in management, it seems that they’re finding it difficult to find a window for us. We’re hopeful of doing it before the World Cup. If everything goes well, we will see if we can fit in before then,” SLC CEO Ashley De Silva said.

SLC is now hopeful of the tour going ahead sometime before the 2022 Women’s World Cup. Pakistan and Sri Lanka women will now be in action in the ODI World Cup global qualifier starting November 21 in Zimbabwe.

Pakistan Cricket Board Found It Tough To Arrange The Matches At Such Short Notice As PCB Also Underwent Administrative Changes

PCB sources said they were finding it tough to arrange the matches on such short notice, given the administrative changes the board is currently undergoing. It is also understood that some of the Pakistan players were unavailable for an assignment in October.

SLC, for their part, are hopeful of the tour going ahead sometime before the World Cup, which is scheduled for March-April next year.

Last month, New Zealand (men’s team) and England (both men’s and women’s teams) cancelled the Pakistan tour as the Black Caps cited security concerns while England mentioned their players’ mental and physical well-being. PCB’s newly appointed chairman Ramiz Raja was totally disappointed with this setback, and he felt as if Pakistan was used by both the teams.