India Tour Of Sri Lanka Earned US $14.5 Million, Reveals Sri Lanka Cricket

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that India’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka has paid rich dividends to the board. The SLC earned $14.5 million from the six matches.

Last month a host of inexperienced Indian players were led by Shikhar Dhawan in Sri Lanka to play three One-Day Internationals and as many as T20I matches. The fact that SLC has been struggling financially was clearly seen in the rift with their players amid the signing of contracts before the Indian tour.

Sri Lanka Cricket benefitted $14.5 million from India’s tour

SLC secretary Mohan de Silva credited their board’s cordial relations with BCCI and thanked the Indian Board and its government for allowing their players to tour during the COVID-19 pandemic times.

“According to the FTP (Future Tours Program) the tour was only for 3 ODIs, but our President Shammi Silva managed to persuade the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to give us an additional 3 T20Is which resulted in the enhancement of the commercial value. It was made possible because of the relationship we have cultivated with the Indian Cricket Board. We got $ 14.5 million from broadcasting and other rights like ground, etc.,” de Silva told Daily FT.

“The fact that the BCCI and the Indian Government gave the blessings for their team to come to Sri Lanka during the pandemic times and meet their commitments was also due to the cordial relationships we have with the BCCI. Without their encouragement we would not have been able to go ahead with this tour which resulted in a lucrative commercial value and revenue coming into Sri Lanka.” de Silva further said.

Sri Lanka Cricket appreciated BCCI to continue with the tour amid COVID-19 cases

Despite the series had to be rescheduled on a couple of occasions after players from both the camps saw COVID-19 positive cases with Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya contracted the virus ahead of the second T20I and apart from him, eight of his close contacts were isolated by the Indian team management.

The series went ahead with India fielding their most inexperienced team where they handed five players debut in the second T2oI. Mohan de Silva appreciated Rahul Dravid and the Board for their coordination amid the crisis and continuing the tour.

“Even the Indian High Commissioner was concerned and the BCCI. In this context, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of SLC to the management of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid and the others, and the BCCI who monitored the situation. They wanted certain guidance given by us and the assurances, which we did by moving the patient to another hotel and so on, and we continued with the tour,” said de Silva.

Sri Lanka lost the ODI series 1-2 to India but won the T20I series with a similar margin with leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga played a massive role with his bowling to script Sri Lanka‘s first bilateral T20I series win against their Asian neighbors.

Mohan de Silva mentioned that players’ morale has been uplifted after winning the series and they look forward to the ICC T20 World Cup in UAE.

“It has helped the players a lot. It has uplifted the morale of the cricketers. The T20I series win against India really bolstered the confidence of the players and we also had a lot of positives. We’ve seen emerging players coming and playing leading roles under a new captain, you could see their body language and self-confidence improving. These are good signs for the upcoming T20 World Cup,” said de Silva.

Also Read: Sri Lanka Cricket Rewards The National Team A Sum Of USD 100,000 For Winning The T20 Series Against India