• New calendar slot open following postponement of India’s tour of Bangladesh

Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ashley de Silva says that no official decision has yet been reached between the SLC or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after a sudden window had opened for Sri Lanka to explore the possibility of organising a bilateral white-ball cricket series in August.

He said this has materialised following the postponement of India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh next month.

“I do not want to comment on this as yet, due to no official decision being made,” he told The Daily Morning Sports.

“We have also heard that India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh has been postponed. However, it is too early to comment on whether any bilateral white-ball cricket series could be arranged in the window that has opened. Hence it would be apt, if you could wait till an official announcement is made.” 

The SLC CEO made these comments, in response to speculation which was rife on Wednesday (9), about the possibility for an ODI and T20I series between Sri Lanka and India in mid-August.

He added that thus far no discussions have taken place between the SLC and the BCCI for a series featuring three ODIs and a similar number of T20Is.  

According to certain online media reports the postponement of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), originally set for July-August this year, has further cleared the calendar for Sri Lanka, creating a rare window for both nations to scour the possibility for a bilateral white-ball series.

India, currently undertaking a red-ball cricket tour of England, and the top-ranked team in the format, was not originally scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in 2025, with the focus being on the Bangladesh series, which is now pushed back.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, is due to leave for Zimbabwe in late August, for a white-ball series there starting on 29 August. Certain reports had suggested mid-August being the only viable period for hosting India.

The two sides last met in Sri Lanka in July 2024, where India won the T20I series and Sri Lanka claimed the preceding historic ODI leg after some 27 years.

Sri Lanka’s next bilateral white-ball series on home soil will be against 11th ranked Ireland when the latter is scheduled to visit in October-November this year.

Charith Asalanka’s team on Tuesday (8) beat Bangladesh 2-1 in a three-match One-Day International series for their 11th consecutive ODI bilateral series triumph at home.

Furthermore, since their shambolic showing at the last ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup in India in 2023, the island-nation have prevailed in seven of nine ODI series including notable victories over Australia and India.