A sudden rise in positive coronavirus cases could jeopardise India’s three ODIs and three T20Is on the Lankan shores, where 3,269 positive cases along with 24 deaths were reported on Thursday.
The tally for the past week in Sri Lanka reads 16,342 positive cases and 147 deaths. The latest wave of the dangerous viral outbreak has meant a cloud of uncertainty suddenly hovering over India’s first visit to Sri Lanka since 2018.
Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley De Silva admitted that Covid-19 cases are a matter of concern. However, the CEO has also expressed confidence that the Indian visit won’t be cancelled and Sri Lanka will successfully host their friendly neighbours.
Another senior representative of SLC told InsideSport.co,
“Increase in Covid-19 cases are a big worry but we have successfully hosted England and others during Covid times and we are confident we will be able to host India as well, just keeping fingers crossed that cases don’t increase.”
India were originally scheduled to tour Sri Lanka last year for a limited-overs series, according to the Future Tours Programme designed by the International Cricket Council. But that visit had to be postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed the coming trip during an interview recently, saying that the remaining portion of IPL 2021 can’t be rescheduled in July as India is due to travel to the island nation.
According to the preliminary itinerary designed by SLC, India’s limited-overs series could be held in Colombo with bio-secure regulations in place. The T20Is could be played on June 13, 16 and 19, followed by the ODIs on July 22, 24, and 27, respectively.
