Ireland Test against Sri Lanka off

CricketEurope



Ireland's scheduled Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle has been postponed indefinitely.

The one-off game had been due to take place in Galle from February 8-12 but the failure of the home board to secure a tv broadcaster has led to the cancellation.

It's the latest blow to the beleaguered Cricket Ireland Board whose precarious financial situation saw CEO Warren Deutrom announce on Monday that they were scrapping a home Test against Bangladesh and a five-match T20I series against Afghanistan.

In that statement, Deutrom explained the rationale for dropping the Test match as it 'lacked context' not being in the FTP.

Did the first morning of the Lord's Test when England were dismissed for 85 similarly lack context?

Having fought for so long to be admitted as a Full Member to play what they described as 'The Holy Grail of cricket', it's desperately sad that they seem to be giving up the longest format of the game so easily.

And what of the supporters who have paid for flights and hotels to follow the team in Sri Lanka? No thought or consideration for them. Spare a thought for Larry Leprechaun who was travelling from Australia but now will be faced with a bill for thousands of dollars.

Just seven weeks away and the official announcement finally came from Sri Lanka cricket (see below). Ireland informed their staff and players internally on Monday of the postponement.

Just when exactly both parties made the final decision is unclear.

It's just not cricket.

SRI LANKA MEDIA RELEASE

"Sri Lanka Cricket wish to announce that the proposed Ireland Tour of Sri Lanka, which was expected to take place during the months of January / February, 2020 has been postponed.

"The tour was not part of SLCs original broadcast agreement, which was inked during the year 2013, at a time when Ireland was not a full member country.

"Hence, Sri Lanka Cricket in consultation with Ireland Cricket decided to reschedule the tour to a later date to ensure that the proposed one off test match will come under the next broadcast agreement, which SLC is planning to sign with a prospective partner during the year 2020.

"Under the original schedule, Ireland National Team was scheduled play one test match vs Sri Lanka from 08th to 12th February, 2020 during the proposed tour. The new dates of the tour will be announced, once confirmed."