Sri Lanka offers to host India-England Test series in 2021

Sri Lanka cricket has proposed to host India and England for the Test series between the two cricketing giants in the island nation early next year. Amidst the growing number of COVID-19 cases in India, the chances of the country hosting a full-fledged 5-match Test series appears bleak. However, England is scheduled to play two Test matches in Sri Lanka in January, and the Lankan board sees an opportunity to hold the games in the country as reported by the local media.

"The possibility of England staying back after their two Tests in Sri Lanka to complete the series against India has been given some thought after SLC came up with the suggestion," the report said. The England Test team had spent a couple of weeks in Colombo in preparation for the series earlier in the year before the pandemic forced the team to return to their home country and postponed the series to a future date. 

However, there seems to be no possibility of BCCI allowing Sri Lanka to host the series as of now. A senior BCCI official is reported to have spoken to PTI on this matter. "At this point, the BCCI is not even entertaining such a proposal as it is still four months away," the official said confidentially with under anonymity. 

The island nation located beyond the South of India appears to be coping with the pandemic well. Sri Lanka is scheduled to host Bangladesh for a series in October, which was originally slated to be played in July this year, while also garnering hopes of organizing the Lankan Premier League as soon as November.