West Indies vs Sri Lanka
West Indies vs Sri Lanka (Twitter)

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the return of international cricket to the Caribbean on February 16, 2021, as it confirmed an all-format tour of Sri Lanka which starts in March. The two teams will engage in 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs, and 2 Test matches.

All the matches will be played in bio-secure environments with the T20I Series creating history as the first official international matches to be played by the West Indies Men’s team at the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) and the first West Indies T20Is to be played in Antigua since 2013.

West Indies' bowler Oshane Thomas, center, celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka with team mates during their first Twenty20 cricket match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, March 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
West Indies’ bowler Oshane Thomas, center, celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka with teammates during their first Twenty20 cricket match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, March 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

This series will also mark the beginning of the preparation of the reigning T20 world champions West Indies for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India.

ODI Series A Chance For West Indies To Earn Points To Qualify For The 2023 World Cup Directly

The 3-match ODI series between West Indies and Sri Lanka will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, with the third match being a day-night encounter. These matches will also give the West Indies the opportunity to secure their first points in the qualification for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

CWI President Ricky Skerritt
CWI President Ricky Skerritt (Twitter)

“We are pleased to be able to finally confirm this tour. A number of COVID-19 related logistic hurdles have now been overcome and I want to thank Sri Lankan Cricket President, Shammi Silva and his team, for their co-operation in honoring their obligation to tour under the ICC FTP Agreement. We are also extremely grateful for the support we received from the Governments of Antigua & Barbuda, and St. Lucia in planning this tour,” said Skerritt.

CWI is in contact with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sport in Antigua & Barbuda for preparing the bio-secure environment needed for the matches. All players, support staff, and match officials will be kept in a bio-secure environment, with regular COVID-19 PCR testing taking place.

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FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

T20I series:

March 3: 1st T20I at CCG
March 5: 2nd T20I at CCG
March 7: 3rd T20I at CCG

ODI series:

March 10: 1st CG Insurance ODI at SVRS
March 12: 2nd CG Insurance ODI at SVRS
March 14: 3rd CG Insurance ODI at SVRS (D/N)

March 17-18: two-day warm-up match – CCG

Test Series:

March 21-25: 1st Test at SVRS
March 29 to April 2: 2nd Test at SVRS

(CCG – Coolidge Cricket Ground, SVRS – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium)

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