New Delhi: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla announced on Thursday India and Pakistan will play five cricket matches starting December 15 in Sri Lanka.
Shukla’s statement came hours after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave the green light for the bilateral series between the two countries to be held in Sri Lanka.
Although details are yet to be confirmed, sources in the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) said the matches could be a short series with three ODIs and two T20s as South Africa’s tour of India finishes on December 7 and India has a limited overs series in Australia starting from January 12.
The two Sri Lanka stadiums earmarked for the series are Khettarama (R Premadasa Stadium) and Pallekele (Kandy).
While the receding monsoon has hit the island nation badly, the weather forecast for the last part of December looks good, BCCI sources said.
While some T20 matches are scheduled at the Khettarama, the SLC will reschedule them if the India-Pak matches go through, the source added.
Earlier today, PM Nawaz said PCB should hold a short series with India at a third location owing to the current security situation.
The cricket boards of both countries had written to their respective governments seeking permission to play the series in Sri Lanka after India refused to play in the UAE.
This will be the first time that a Test playing nation has rejected playing a series in the UAE since it became Pakistan’s adopted home after the 2009 Lahore attacks.
Read: PM allows PCB to play Pakistan, India series in Sri Lanka
