Indian cricket team’s tour of Sri Lanka for the limited overs series in June-July will not take place as per original schedule. There is speculation that the Men in Blue can visit the island nation in August for three One Day Internationals and as many T20 Internationals.
The series technically has been postponed. Even the International Cricket Council has reported the development as “the series postponed”.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India will seek advice from the Government before making any international commitment.
There remains a strong possibility of squeezing in a short tour of Sri Lanka before the expected Indian Premier League during September-October. That will also enable the top players to regain their form and match fitness for the intense IPL action.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has informed the Sri Lankan board that the series, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is, will not be feasible “due to the prevailing circumstances revolving around COVID-19 pandemic”.
“Although BCCI remains committed to the FTP and towards its fellow members, it will have to seek the advice from Government of India and the health regulatory authorities before any decision on the resumption of cricket,” sports publication Sportstar has reported with reference to a BCCI statement..
The BCCI is determined to take steps towards the resumption of international and domestic cricket, but it will not rush into any decision that will jeopardize the efforts put in by the Central and State governments and several other respective agencies in containing the spread of the coronavirus, the BCCI has stated while announcing that the Indian Cricket Team will not travel to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe owing to the current threat of COVID-19.
India was originally scheduled to travel to the island nation from June 24 and to Zimbabwe for three ODIs from August 22.
There has been no international cricket since March 13 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The action is slated to resume from July 8 with the three-Test series between England and the West Indies, who have already arrived in England for mandatory stay in quarantine and practice.
The Sri Lanka-India series becomes the latest casualty in the long list of cancelled or deferred international cricket tours.