The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday that India will host Sri Lanka for a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series in January 2020. Both the countries cricket board announced the schedule of the same.
India to Host Sri Lanka For T20I Series in January 2020
Reportedly, India was scheduled to host Zimbabwe earlier during this period but following their ban by ICC, the BCCI invited Sri Lanka to participate in the three-match series. The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati will be the host of the T20I series opener on January 5, 2020.
The second T20I will take place in Indore on January 7, while the third and final match will be played in Pune on January 10.
According to the reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Zimbabwe Cricket on July 18 with immediate effect, saying that the Full Member had failed to prevent government intervention in the sports administration in the country and the decision was taken at the ICC Annual Conference in London.
The ICC statement read, “The ICC Board unanimously decided that the Full Member had failed to fulfill their obligation to provide a process for free and democratic elections and to ensure that there is no government interference in its administration for cricket.”
Following the ban, Zimbabwe Cricket will not receive ICC funding and the country’s teams will not be allowed to participate in ICC events until the suspension is lifted. Also, Zimbabwe’s participation in the men’s T20 World Cup qualifying tournament, starting in October 2019 is also in doubt due to the suspension.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had last toured India for a bilateral T20I series in 2017-18. India had clean-swept that series by a 3-0 margin at that time. Also, as per reports, India holds a 9-2 upper hand over Sri Lanka in the bilateral T20I matches.
The series will be going to mark India’s first T20I series at home in the year 2020.
