Sri Lanka, who were supposed to tour India for three Tests in August 2015, will now host the series, according to SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga. The decision has come in the wake of Sri Lanka agreeing to plug the gap in India’s home calendar after West Indies’ pullout.
“As we are obliging India with a five-match ODI series there next month, India are obliged to return the tour next year and we have switched the Test series,” Ranatunga said.
The BCCI, however, is yet to confirm the swap. It is understood that the BCCI has held preliminary discussions with SLC in this regard. The proposal of switching the venue for the 2015 Test series will be put before the working committee for consideration, which will “finalise” the arrangement, according to a senior BCCI functionary.
By hosting the three-Test series with India, SLC stands to make around $ 7-8 million, according to Ranatunga. There will be no ODIs or T20Is included in the itinerary.
India haven’t hosted Sri Lanka for Tests since 2009, and the last time Sri Lanka hosted India for Tests was in 2010, the series that marked the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan.
The next available slot for a Test series between the two teams, as per the new FTP, is in August 2017 when India visit Sri Lanka for three Tests, five ODIs and one T20.
INDIA SERIES A CHANCE FOR FRINGE PLAYERS:
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya has said the five-match ODI series in India would help Sri Lanka to try out their fringe players before the World Cup. The series was confirmed by the BCCI and SLC the day West Indies players decided to pull out of their tour to India.
“This is an ideal opportunity for some of the bowlers who have been around to grab their chance by performing against a top team like India,” Jayasuriya said. “These players have been in the system for some time and thrown into the deep end we can see how they cope with the pressures.”
Three of Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have been recuperating from injuries. Lasith Malinga is recovering from surgery on his ankle, Suranga Lakmal has just begun rehabilitation work after a stress fracture to his ankle sustained during the South Africa series in July and Thisara Perera is recovering from a hamstring injury picked up during the Champions League T20 last month, when he represented Kings XI Punjab.
“Malinga has already begun rehabilitation work, and with 16 weeks left for the World Cup, we are hopeful he will be fit. Perera is not training at present,” Jayasuriya said.
Jayasuriya added the series would also benefit batsmen like Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella, who have been performing well for Sri Lanka A in the ongoing unofficial Test series at home against West Indies A.
“It is high time these batsmen took on the responsibilities and performed without leaving everything to the experienced players,” he said. “At the moment apart from the players involved in the Sri Lanka A series with West Indies A, the rest of the players are undergoing physical training. They will need at least 5-6 strenuous batting sessions to be prepared for the Indian series.”
However, a tweet from Kumar Sangakkara suggested that the sudden decision to hold the tour may not have gone down well with some players. “Our 6 weeks of pure fitness work ends abruptly. Have a week to do a months requirement of skill work before India. Planning ahead anyone?” Sangakkara tweeted.
Sri Lanka finished their last international series in August, against Pakistan at home, and did not have any international cricket till mid-November when England are due to play seven ODIs.