West Indies tour shortened

Sri Lanka Cricket has changed the dates for the two Tests and three-nation limited-overs international series that also involve India.

The changes became necessary following a request to reschedule the limited-overs series to allow the Indian players to participate in a proposed Afro-Asian competition in August.

The limited-overs series, in which the teams play each other twice, was set to start on August 2, but will now begin on July 30 with all seven matches packed into 11 days.

The Final will be played under lights at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium on August 9.

This has meant that the two Tests between Sri Lanka and West Indies will now be contested from July 13 to 17 at Colombo’s Sinhalese Stadium, and from July 21 to 25 at Kandy’s Asgiriya Stadium.

It also means that West Indies will only have a two-day, rather than a three-day practice match before the First Test.  

The proposed series between an Asian XI and African XI will raise funds for the welfare of players in the two continents, and for the development of the new Afro-Asian Cricket Council, a new body set up by the Asian Cricket Council and the African Cricket Council.

Itinerary:

JULY—

13-17: First Test — Colombo (Sinhalese)

21-25: Second Test — Kandy

30: India vs Sri Lanka — Dambulla

31: India vs West Indies — Dambulla

AUGUST—

2: Sri Lanka vs West Indies — Dambulla

3: Sri Lanka vs India — Dambulla

6: West Indies vs Sri Lanka — Colombo (Premadasa)

7: West Indies vs India — Colombo (Premadasa)

9: Final - Colombo (Premadasa)