Reports: Sri Lanka could host the India-England Test series in 2021

Sri Lanka’s bid to host this year’s IPL may have failed but the Island nation is eager to host India-England Test series next year. The Sri Lanka board has indicated to the BCCI that they’re willing to host their Tests against England in the COVID-19 situation prevails next year.

England are scheduled to tour India next year for five Test matches. However, India, at present, is struggling with a surge in COVID-19 positive cases. India has emerged as one of the worst-hit nations amid the pandemic, registering over 2.4 million positive cases so far.

Considering the current situation, there’s still a dilemma over the resumption of the cricketing scenario in the country. A significant rise in coronavirus cases was the prime reason behind the BCCI shifting the much-awaited IPL 2020 to the UAE. England were also scheduled to tour India for a limited-overs series in September but that has been postponed now. Along with shifting IPL 2020, the BCCI was also forced to postpone several other bilateral series.

England currently are involved in a three-Test series against Pakistan

England, in the early phase of next year, is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka and complete their postponed series. England had spent two weeks in Colombo preparing for the two-match Test series but were forced to fly back home due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the UK.

The possibility of England staying back after their two Tests in Sri Lanka to complete the series against India has been given a though after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) suggested the idea, as reported by The Island. International cricket, meanwhile, is slowly but steadily getting back on track amid the pandemic. England currently are involved in a three-match Test series against Pakistan after successfully hosting a bilateral series against West Indies and Ireland.

Like many other countries, Sri Lanka too had no choice but to postpone several series in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The Sri Lanka board wanted to host the Lanka Premier League to flag off the cricketing scenario across the country in August. The league, however, was pushed further to November on recommendations of the Health Ministry.