The recently held limited-overs series between India and hosts Sri Lanka has come as a huge relief for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), which was going through a financial crisis.
While touring India won the ODI series 2-1, the home side won the T20I series with the same margin.
The two white-ball series has helped SLC in earning a revenue of USD 14.5 million (Rs 107 crore), said the board’s secretary Mohan de Silva.
“According to the FTP (Future Tours Program) the tour was only for three ODIs, but our President Shammi Silva managed to persuade the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to give us an additional three T20Is which resulted in the enhancement of the commercial value. It was made possible because of the relationship we have cultivated with the Indian Cricket Board. We got $ 14.5 million from broadcasting and other rights like ground, etc.,” de Silva was quoted as saying by the Daily FT.
“The fact that the BCCI and the Indian Government gave the blessings for their team to come to Sri Lanka during the pandemic times and meet their commitments was also due to the cordial relationships we have with the BCCI. Without their encouragement we would not have been able to go ahead with this tour which resulted in a lucrative commercial value and revenue coming into Sri Lanka,” he added.
Meanwhile, De Silva also thanked the BCCI and Indian team for completing the tour despite the series being hit by Covid-19.
Commenting on it, he said: “Even the Indian High Commissioner was concerned and the BCCI. In this context, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of SLC to the management of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid and the others, and the BCCI who monitored the situation. They wanted certain guidance given by us and the assurances, which we did by moving the patient to another hotel and so on, and we continued with the tour.”
The islanders will now host South Africa for three ODIs and as many T20Is from September 2.