Strife-hit Sri Lanka bank hopes on Australia’s tour

The worsening economic and political situation in Sri Lanka has raised worries about Australia’s next visit, while both Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Cricket Australia (CA) insist the month-long series will go ahead. “At this time, the excursion will go as scheduled. On Wednesday, SLC secretary Mohan de Silva told Cricbuzz, “We would be looking at the events in the next few days and deciding what to do,” May 4.

From June 7 to July 12, Australia will play three T20Is, five ODIs, and two Tests. The uncertainty stems from the scenario at ground zero, as even the SLC official admits. Essentials, gasoline, and food stores are in low supply, and people are forced to endure extended periods of a power outage. Last month, there was a 12-hour power outage, but the situation appears to have improved to a fluctuating scenario of three hours, give or take. On May Day, there was no power outage.

In this context, several SLC stakeholders questioned whether the SLC should have the day-night games in the first place, with some believing that the white-ball games might be switched to day games. De Silva stated that a decision would be made shortly, but an SLC official stated that the board is not reliant on the national grid.

“We have our own generators and we don’t depend on the government’s power. It will be a different case if there is a fuel shortage,” said Charith Senanayake, a former manager of the Sri Lanka national team. “The political situation has no bearing on the game and the SLC is always apolitical.”

On May 22, the SLC plans to begin its full-fledged domestic season.

“Whether the game is played during the day or at night is up to the host nation,” a CA official said, confirming that the trip will go place. “The status of the tour has not changed. Our chief of security confirmed that neither party has any reservations about the tour going forward as planned. In June, the team will arrive in Sri Lanka.”

The prospect of shifting the series out of Sri Lanka was examined, but due to the high heat, the UAE is not the best site for cricket in June-July. Despite the promises from the CA and SLC, Cricbuzz can reveal that both boards have raised concerns to their stakeholders, with both noting that a lot would depend on how the scenario plays out in the next 30 days.

“We know what will happen in the next week, so a month is too lengthy to forecast anything.” Life goes on in the midst of civic disturbance, and the same is true in Sri Lanka. The country is insolvent, and the political situation is tumultuous and unpredictable.

Internal media rights are worth around USD 300,000, and the Lanka Board can raise up to USD 3 million in total through ground advertisements and other sources of income. However, the cost of manufacture would be comparable. The SLC might wind up with USD 1 million in income at the end of the series, which is a significant sum given the country’s current foreign exchange reserves of barely $50 million.