Uncertainty surrounding Sri Lanka’s Future Tour Programme (FTP) has driven potential bidders for national team sponsorship, ground and media rights of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for 2020-2023 to seek a guarantee that the schedule – particularly India’s tour of Sri Lanka – will be implemented.
The proposed ban on the age-old practice of using saliva to shine the ball may make cricket dull and boring, says Sri Lanka cricket Test and ODI skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. He urged cricket administrators to find an alternative other than sweat to find a balance between the bat and the ball.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to host this year’s edition of the Asia Cup in September, SLC Secretary Mohan de Silva said. SLC will now seek government’s clearance on going ahead with the tournament contested by six Asian countries.
A social media outcry triggered by the ill-timed announcement that a multi-million dollar cricket stadium was to be built in Homagama forced its suspension after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa gave heed to those campaigning against the initiative.
New Delhi: The Anil Kumble-led ICC Cricket Committee on Monday recommended banning the use of saliva to shine the ball owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. During a meeting over a video conference, the committee also pushed for bringing back two non-neutral umpires for all internationals matches.
A possible abandonment of the home series against South Africa and India in May and June may not trigger a long term financial loss as the home Board is confident it can reschedule the tours within the current cricket cycle—but it will certainly leave a gaping hole in Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) cash flow this year.
Chief cricket selector Ashantha De Mel often speaks of ’continuity’ to give players a fair run in the team. The strategy seems to be bearing fruit. Sri Lanka’s 3-0 triumph against West Indies in the ODIs came against the backdrop of resolute selection, something that will be adhered to again as the team prepares for the World T20 qualifiers in Australia later this year.
South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka, due for late May, is likely to be postponed in light of the global fight against Covid-19. The numbers of dead and infected worldwide keep rising and the global fight against the disease has caused lockdowns in most countries and closed international borders as well as restricted internal movement.
Kumar Sangakkara is currently in self-quarantine at his home in Colombo, after he returned home from a visit to the United Kingdom. This is as per the Sri Lanka government’s guidelines for those who have recently returned from Europe.
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