CA rejects SLC proposal to host Tests before One Dayers in Sri Lanka

Cricket Australia has refused to play tests before white ball cricket in Sri Lanka. The two nations are to be involved in a 35-day 10 match series, including three T20Is, five ODIs and two tests, starting June 7

CA’s turndown has put SLC in a spot of bother because of the shortage of fuel and power in the country, which has also witnessed disturbance and riots on the streets, because of the unstable political and economic climate in the country. 

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently made a statement saying that the country is left with a petrol stock of only 24 hours and television footage of long queues outside fuel stations has been all over the social media. 

"We will be taking a call in the next few days on how to hold the white ball games," SLC secretary Mohan de Silva  confirmed CA's rejection of its proposal to hold the Test upfront so that it could be in a position to circumvent the fuel crisis.

Knowing that hosting day/night games will not only be extremely difficult but also unfitting at this stage, the SLC hoped that the circumstances could improve in the coming days and it wanted to bide time by organising the Test matches first.    

Cricket Australia did not immediately respond to any queries concerning this affair but a few stakeholders of the boards have confirmed this. All concerned have also affirmed that the tour will go ahead as planned. The Australian Cricket Team will reach Sri Lanka in two weeks’ time. 

The tour is of immense financial importance for the insolvent SLC which could rake in   millions of dollars from television rights and other sources.

It will be Australia’s first test tour of Sri Lanka in six years. The Aussies had last tourned in the island in 2016.