The Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC)on Saturday announced the revised timetable of India’s upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.
“The tour comprising 3 ODIs and many T20Is will now start from July 18th,2021”, read an official statement from BCCI.
The three ODIs will now be played on July 18, 20 and 23. While the three T20Is will go ahead on July 25, 27 and 29.
Jay Shah, Secretary , BCCI said, “We understand the circumstances are extraordinary, but the BCCI would like to extend its full support to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) during these tough times for the smooth conduct of the upcoming series. Our medical team is in constant touch with the team of doctors at SLC and together following all safety protocols that will help the series to get underway. We are confident that both nations will put up a spirited show in the days to come and we are in for some exciting cricket”.
Ashley de Silva, the SLC CEO said, “We are grateful to the BCCI for understanding the situation and agreeing to cooperate with us at this moment of time, as it has done on numerous occasions, during our long-standing relationship”.
The Shikhar Dhawan-led Indian side was slated to lock horns in the ODI series scheduled to begin on Tuesday, but due to thr recent cases of Covid infection in the Sri Lanka camp, the tour will start from July 18. All the matches will be played at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
The ODI series is being rescheduled after Sri Lanka's batting coach Grant Flower and data analyst GT Niroshan tested positive for the dreaded delta variant of Covid 19 on their return from the UK tour, which also meant an extended quarantine period for the squad members.
Earlier in the day, a Sri Lankan player in one of the two bio-bubbles had tested positive for COVID 19 as the virus outbreak continued to rock the home team.
Newswire.com quoted Sri Lankan sources as saying that batsman Sandun Weerakkodi has tested positive for the virus. He was not a part of UK returned team.
Earlier, three England players testing positive for COVID 19 had sent alarm high as Sri Lanka last played against the England squad.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/bcci-slc-announce-revised-schedule-for-india-vs-sri-lanka-odis-and-t20is-101625911561358.html