Afghanistan ODIs shifted to Pallekele

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka Cricket announced yesterday that the three-match ODI series involving Afghanistan has been shifted to Pallekele. The series was initially scheduled to take place at RPS. The board did not provide a reason for the shift.

The Afghans will arrive in the island on the 30th of January. They will start off the tour with a one-off Test match at Sinhalese Sports Club grounds.

This will be the first Test between the countries and will be played from 2nd February to 6th.

The ODIs will take place on the 9th, 11th and 14th of February at Pallekele.

The T20 International series will be played in Dambulla on the 17th, 19th and 21st of February.

This is a busy year for the national cricket team. Sri Lanka already played a white ball series against Zimbabwe and will travel to Bangladesh later this month for a multi-format tour that includes two Tests, three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals.

The T-20 World Cup is scheduled for June in the West Indies and Caribbean.

Sri Lanka will then host India for three ODIs and three T-20s in July.

The Test team will be in England for three Tests in August and September.

On return home, Sri Lanka will play two Tests against New Zealand while West Indies will be coming to Colombo to play three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals.

Then in November, New Zealand will come here again for the white ball leg of the tour which consists of three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals.

Sri Lanka will be in South Africa for Christmas and will play two Tests and for the new year will travel to New Zealand where they will play three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals.