Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has requested BCCI for a tweak in the schedule for the upcoming series between the two nations starting on February 25. SLC wants the tour to start with 3-match T20Is, followed by the 2-match test match series. Currently, it’s the other way round.
“SLC has requested BCCI to play the T20I series first instead of the Test matches. The Sri Lankan team will be playing a T20I series against Australia before coming to India. It will be convenient for them to send a team which will be already in a bubble,” A BCCI official spoke to Times Of India.
According to the current schedule, Sri Lanka will play two tests at Bengaluru and Mohali while the T20Is are to be played at Mohali, Dharamsala, and Lucknow starting from March 13. But due to covid outbreak, BCCI is likely to restrict it to 2 or 3 venues.
BCCI is likely to host the series in two or three venues
“BCCI wants to distribute international games to as many state associations. But the Covid-19 wave has made it difficult to do so. Confining a series to a certain region is convenient,” The official added.
The series between India and West Indies was originally scheduled to play across 6 venues but it has been reduced to 2 venues as the situation of Covid-19 worsened in the last month or so. Now the ODIs will be played at Ahmedabad on February 6, 9, and 11 while the T20Is will be played on February 16, 18, and 20 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the BCCI will also take a final call on Ranji Trophy which was postponed in January due to a covid outbreak. According to a report a few days back, some state associations made a request to organize the premier first-class tournament.
“It will take a month to finish the league stage but the number of Covid-19 cases have to fall drastically. Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata seem to have gone past their peak. We will monitor the situation for another 10-14 days,” The official stated.
Ranji Trophy was canceled last season as well due to Covid-19.