India’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to commence in June, was on Thursday called off due to the coronavirus pandemic with both the Boards saying that the situation is not feasible for the games to go ahead. The Indian team was scheduled to play 3 T20Is and as many ODIs in June against Sri Lanka but the SLC confirmed that the series will be postponed.
Tweetong about the same, ICC wrote: “India’s tour to Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to take place later this month, has become the latest series to be postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” the ICC said.
India's tour to Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to take place later this month, has become the latest series to be postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/nqO3urKiNP
— ICC (@ICC) June 11, 2020
A media release from Sri Lanka also confirmed the development. SLC stated, “The BCCI informed Sri Lanka Cricket that due to the prevailing circumstances revolving around COVID-19 pandemic, the cricket series, which included 3 ODIs and 3 T20I matches will not be feasible.”
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The cancellation was expected as Indian players are yet to resume training with cases continuing to rise rapidly in the country, which has recorded more than 8,000 COVID-19 deaths so far. We will make up for the series: BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal
BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal said India remained committed to the Future Tours Programme (FTP) and would tour Sri Lanka at a more opportune time. During a chat with Reuters, Dhumal said, “We’re committed to FTP, but given the current situation, it’s not possible for the team to travel, it’s not safe.”
Currently, India is going through a nationwide lockdown. Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus positive patients in India went past 287000 on Thursday, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
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Almost the entire is in a lockdown due to the scare of the ever-escalating situation concerning the World Health Organisation-recognized pandemic that is the Coronavirus. Everything- schools, colleges, airports, railway stations, gyms, sporting events, movies, offices- have been put under lockdown as the world continues to self-isolate in order to control the pandemic.