Now Reading: Sri Lanka Cricket seeks more Tests against India, England, Australia
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Sri Lanka Cricket seeks more Tests against India, England, Australia
Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee chairman Eran Wickramaratne has called for a reworked ICC Future Tours Programme so the country can play more Test matches against top nations India, England, and Australia. He said the current international calendar is congested by T20 and 50-over cricket, leaving Sri Lanka with too few Tests. The island nation played only two Tests against the West Indies after a year-long hiatus and is now in a two-match series against India, with six more Tests scheduled this year against Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Wickramaratne acknowledged that India is cricket's financial powerhouse and said Sri Lanka depends on India heavily. He expressed hope that recent meetings with ICC president Jay Shah and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia would yield positive results. Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sidath Wettimuny, now on the interim committee, said the new administration is introducing independent directors to ensure greater accountability and transparency in Sri Lanka Cricket, similar to reforms seen in India, South Africa, and Australia.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both The Hindu and Rediff cover the story as straight reportage, leading with Wickramaratne's request and Wettimuny's governance overhaul. The Hindu includes the context of Sri Lanka's Test schedule and the financial dependence on India, which Rediff also mirrors closely. Neither offering adds a critical or pro-government slant, making the coverage uniform. A careful reader should note that the FTP revision request is driven by both competitive and financial motives, and that the governance reforms are presented as a parallel effort to strengthen SLC. The key is how these will be received by the ICC and BCCI in the next cycle, with the upcoming WTC schedule as the concrete focus.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): thehindu.com (neutral report), rediff.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
