IND vs SL 2021: New schedule for India’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka released

A new schedule for India’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka has been announced after a few members of the Sri Lanka team have been found to be covid positive. Because of this, players India-Sri Lanka limited over series that was supposed to be held on 13 July, will now take place on 18 July, This decision has been taken to ensure the safety of the players as multiple covid cases among the Sri Lanka contingent and subsequent quarantine has pushed the series forward by a few days. 

Shikar Dhawan will lead the Indian cricket team that will play three ODIs and three T20s. According to the new schedule, first, the ODI will kick off on 18 July and will end on 23 July. T20 will start on the 25 July and take place on the alternative days. 

Three Sri Lankan members who were part of the Sri Lanka tour of England were found positive for Covid. Batting coach Grant Flower was the first to test positive for the Covid after landing in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Cricket board ordered a covid test of all the players who were part of England. In the subsequent results, two more members tested positive for Coronavirus. It prompted the Sri Lankan cricket board to take steps to quarantine the players for their safety. 

Later, all the Sri Lankan players were shifted from the Hotel Taj to Cinnamon due to Covid. They will have to go through the round of the tests and protocols before they are allowed to play while the Indian team is camped at the hotel Taj. We will have to watch for the situation to emerge, only then the future course of the actions will be decided. 

As the players will be kept in quarantine for a long time, there is no surety if the quarantine players would return to play the series. However, host authorities have arranged second-string teams, one in the columbo and another in the Dambulla that could stand in place to play the series against India in case the situation does not improve. 

Until then, It would present an opportunity for Rahul and co. to do more practice. 

The full schedule for India’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka

ODI series 

• First ODI: July 18
• Second ODI: July 20
• Third ODI: July 23

T20I series:

• First T20I: July 25
• Second T20I: July 27
• Third T20I: July 29