By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka Cricket is planning to play all the matches during the West Indies tour here in November-December at the three World Cup venues – R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sooriyawewa in Hambantota and Pallakele in Kandy.
West Indies are due to play a series of three Tests and five One-Day Internationals during their tour of Sri Lanka. Presently, the venues allocated for the Tests are Dambulla, SSC and P Sara Oval and for the five ODIs – Hambantota, Galle, SSC and R Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga told The Nation, that the venues decided are provisional and that there is every possibility that the eight matches (3 Tests and 5 ODIs) could be played at the three World Cup venues.
“We want to give our national players the maximum opportunity of playing at these three venues ahead of the World Cup matches,” said Ranatunga.
“The playing areas at Hambantota, Pallakele and R Premadasa Stadium are ready our only concern is the construction of the stadium around it. We will review the work in progress by end of September and then decide whether the matches can be played there,” he said.
Ranatunga also stated that every opportunity is being given to the national selectors to pick the best side for the World Cup.
“We already have India and New Zealand playing in a tri-series. There is also South Africa ‘A’ playing concurrently with Sri Lanka ‘A’. Pakistan ‘A’ is also due shortly to play in two unofficial tests and take part in a one-day tri-series. There is enough opportunity on offer for the players to perform and compete for places before the final selection,” said Ranatunga.
Pallakele hosted the first unofficial 4-day test between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and South ‘A’ which ended on Friday. Hambantota is slotted to host the first unofficial 4-day test between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Pakistan ‘A’ from September 9-12.
The 14th edition of Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be held from February 17 to April 2 with Sri Lanka due to host 12 of the 49 matches which includes five of their six group matches at R. Premadasa Stadium (3 matches) Hambantota (1) and Pallakele (1) plus the second quarter-final and the first semi-final (both at R Premadasa Stadium). Sri Lanka will also host all the group matches played by Pakistan at all three venues.
West Indies tour of Sri Lanka (provisional itinerary)
Nov 16-20: 1st Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Dambulla
Nov 24-28: 2nd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at SSC
Dec 1-5: 3rd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at P Sara Oval
Dec. 9: 1st ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Hambantota
Dec 11: 2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Hambantota
Dec 14: 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Galle
Dec 17: 4th ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at SSC
Dec 19: 5th ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at R Premadasa Stadium
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