Sri Lanka keen to host IPL matches

The cash-starved Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has approached the BCCI, showing their interest to hold some Indian Premier League matches in the island country to raise some additional revenue.

SLC’s revenue got a beating when the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) was postponed last year after the BCCI refused to release Indian cricketers for the tournament.
SLC also has been hit hard because of the construction of new stadiums in Pallekele and Hambantota and the renovation of the Premadasa Stadium for last year’s World Cup.

“I feel it (a T20 league) is a needed thing. But I don’t think it is the right time with India having the IPL,” the newly-appointed SLC president Upali Dharmadasa told espncricinfo website.

“With most of our players going and playing there and the countries being so close, I would request the Indian board, and we have already started talking, why not play a couple of (IPL) matches in Sri Lanka?”

Pointing out that logistical issues won’t be a problem in hosting IPL matches in Sri Lanka, Dharmadasa said, “Make it a venture. On the whole, they (the BCCI) will help Sri Lanka as a tourist attraction and see that Sri Lanka Cricket comes up.”

India were supposed to play a full tour — three Tests, five ODIs and a T20 game — in Sri Lanka, but severe shortage of funds have forced the SLC to rejig the proposed series. India’s tour of Sri Lanka later this year will now comprise three ODIs and as many T20 games and no Test matches.