CA: Tests not to be played before white ball games in Sri Lanka

Cricket Australia (CA) has turned down a request from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to hold Test matches in the island nation before the white-ball matches.

Starting June 7, the teams will compete in a 35-day 10-match series that will include three T20Is, five ODIs, and two Tests, in that sequence.

Because of the country’s fuel and power shortages, as well as street protests caused by the country’s protracted economic and political crises, CA’s rejection has pushed SLC into a position.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently stated that the country only has a 24-hour supply of petrol, and television footage of huge lines outside gas stations has gone viral on social media.

“We will make a decision on how to organize the white ball games in the next days,” SLC secretary Mohan de Silva told, confirming CA’s rejection of its suggestion to stage the Test ahead of schedule in order to avoid the fuel problem.

Knowing that playing day/night games would be difficult and unsuitable at this point, the Lankan board hoped that the situation would improve in the coming days and decided to put the Test matches first to buy time.

The Australian board did not react to a request for comment right away, but certain board stakeholders have confirmed this to this website.

All parties involved have also confirmed that the tour will take place from June 7 to July 12, with the Tests taking place towards the tail end of the schedule, as planned.

In two weeks, Australia is anticipated to arrive in Sri Lanka.

The series is crucial financially for the cash-strapped SLC, as it has the potential to generate over a million dollars in revenue through broadcast rights and other sources.

SLC is reportedly considering not holding the white ball games under lights, a decision that could save it the embarrassment and potential criticism of wasting fuel on cricket while the country is experiencing long power outages and a cooking gas crisis.

It will be Australia’s first visit to Sri Lanka in six years for a Test series. The last time Australians visited the island was in 2016.