India to Tour Sri Lanka for White-Ball Series After 2024 T20 World Cup
The schedule for Sri Lankan cricket in 2024 has been released, and in July, they will play host to the Indian squad in a bilateral series. Three ODIs and T20Is between The Men in Blue and Island Nation will be played during the series.
The 2024 T20 World Cup is set to take place in June in the USA and the West Indies, immediately following the white-ball series. The Shikhar Dhawan-led team last visited Sri Lanka in 2021 for a bilateral series; they lost the T20I leg by the same margin as they won the ODI leg, 2-1.
As to Sri Lanka Cricket‘s (SLC) Future Tour Programme (FTP), India is scheduled to play three Twenty20 international matches and One-day international matches in July.
As part of their World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Sri Lanka will play 10 Test matches, 21 ODI, and 21 T20I (not including the T20 World Cup) in addition to the India series. The three-match away series in England, which is a part of the ongoing World Test Championship, will be one of the main responsibilities. The two-Test series in November against South Africa will be the other difficult task.
In the upcoming days, Sri Lankan cricketers will be hoping to raise their game on the international scene following their disappointing World Cup campaign in India, where they finished ninth and were unable to advance to the Champions Trophy 2025, which is anticipated to be hosted in Pakistan.
Due to the SLC board’s subpar performance, Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe fired the board and appointed an interim committee chaired by Arjuna Ranatunga. However, a day later, the courts in Sri Lanka issued a 14-day stay order on the gazette that dissolved the board, thereby restoring it.
A few days later, the ICC suspended the cricket board with immediate effect due to significant government meddling in the board’s operations.
India’s cricket team is set to embark on a white-ball series tour of Sri Lanka in July 2024. This tour comes as part of the Future Tours Program, with the Men in Blue scheduled to play a 3-match ODI and 3-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The announcement of this tour brings some much-needed excitement for the crisis-ridden Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its host broadcaster.
A Busy Schedule for Team India
The Indian cricket team has a jam-packed schedule in the upcoming year, with a series of matches lined up both at home and abroad. Following the ongoing five-match T20I series against Australia, the team will head to South Africa for three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests. Upon their return, they are scheduled to play three T20Is against Afghanistan in January 2024.
India’s home season will kick off with a five-Test series against England before the players participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The highly anticipated T20 World Cup is scheduled in June, after which India will travel to Sri Lanka for the white-ball series.
Sri Lanka’s International Calendar
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has also announced its international calendar for 2024, which includes hosting several teams such as Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, India, New Zealand (twice), and West Indies. Their international calendar begins with a home series against Zimbabwe in January, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.
In February-March 2024, Sri Lanka is set to tour Bangladesh for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is. This will be followed by a series against India at home in July, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. The Sri Lankan team will then embark on a tour of England in August-September, playing three Tests. In November-December, they will travel to South Africa for a two-Test series, followed by a tour of New Zealand in December-January 2025 for three ODIs and three T20Is.
India’s Tour of Sri Lanka
The Indian team’s tour of Sri Lanka is scheduled to take place after the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and the USA. The exact dates for the series have not been announced yet, but it is expected to be held in July 2024.
Despite the ban imposed on the Sri Lanka Cricket Board by the ICC for government interference, bilateral series are still allowed to take place. As per the Future Tours Program, teams can play against Sri Lanka both at home and away, ensuring that the scheduled series between India and Sri Lanka will proceed as planned.
Excitement for Fans and Sponsors
Ashley De Silva, the CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming international cricket calendar. He stated that the 2024 schedule would provide players with ample playing opportunities, entertain fans, and offer great exposure to sponsors. With a packed calendar of matches, cricket enthusiasts can look forward to an action-packed year of cricket.
Conclusion
The Indian cricket team’s tour of Sri Lanka for a white-ball series after the 2024 T20 World Cup promises to be an exciting event for cricket fans. With a busy schedule ahead, including high-profile series against England and South Africa, India’s tour of Sri Lanka will provide an opportunity for some players to rest and others to showcase their skills. The announcement of the tour brings hope and anticipation for both teams, as well as fans eagerly awaiting thrilling encounters on the cricket field.
