COVID-19 Pandemic: India's Tour Of Sri Lanka Called Off

Team India was scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20s starting June end and continuing till July in Sri Lanka

Photo: AFP

The Indian cricket team's limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka was on Thursday called off due to the coronavirus pandemic with both the Boards saying that the situation is not feasible for the tour to go ahead. The cancellation was expected as team India cricketers have not yet started training amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. Team India was scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20s starting June end and continuing till July in Sri Lanka. The dates for the matches had not yet been finalised. "It is not possible to tour Sri Lanka in July in the current scenario," the source told PTI. A media release from Sri Lanka also confirmed the development. "The BCCI informed Sri Lanka Cricket that due to the prevailing circumstances revolving around COVID-19 pandemic, the cricket series, which included 3 ODIs and 3 T20I matches will not be feasible," the SLC stated. Meanwhile, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly via an email to all affiliated members of the body has stated that the apex cricket board in the nation is keen to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is working on all possible options to stage the cash-rich T20 tournament, even considering holding the thirteenth edition of the league behind closed doors later this year. The BCCI has been unable to decide on a proper window because of ICC indecision to postpone or conduct the tournament but after Wednesday teleconference as part of ICC board, Ganguly is very certain that the World Cup T20 will be postponed and IPL window will be cleared.