India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh tri-series preponed by two days
In an attempt to schedule the final of the Nidahas Trophy on a Sunday, SLC officials have moved up the series by two days, which kicks-off on March 6 with Sri Lanka taking on India. The series will go on until March 18 and all the seven games of the series will take place at R. Premadasa Stadium.
After being initially decided that the tri-nation series would kick start on March 8 that saw the final being scheduled on a Tuesday, SLC has now moved it two days ahead that would bring the final to Sunday. Thilanga Sumathipala, the Sri Lanka board president, has reportedly announced in a media briefing that he would be expecting a minimum of USD 6.5 million through the sale of rights.
Cricbuzz also reported that both India and Bangladesh will be reaching the island nation on March 4 and while Bangladesh will play a warm-up game, India will directly kick off two days later on March 6. Marking the 70th year of the independence of the country, SLC would be hoping a financial windfall through the sale of television and marketing rights.
First played in 1998 to symbolize Sri Lanka’s golden jubilee of independence, it had New Zealand apart from India and the hosts. India had reached the final then where they had posted a massive 307 run target. Sri Lanka fell short by only seven runs then as Aravinda de Silva’s 94-ball 105 went in vain.
Schedule
March 6 - Sri Lanka vs India at R. Premadasa Stadium
March 8 - Bangladesh vs India at R. Premadasa Stadium
March 10 - Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh at R. Premadasa Stadium
March 12 - India vs Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium
March 14 - India vs Bangladesh at R. Premadasa Stadium
March 16 - Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium
March 18 - Final at R. Premadasa Stadium