West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021: Squads, Fixtures, Timings, Broadcasters, Live Streaming, and all you need to know

Sri Lanka’s all-format tour of the West Indies comprising three T20Is, three One-Day Internationals, and two Tests will commence on March 3, 2021, in Antigua in a bio-secure environment. All the fixtures of the series will be conducted behind closed doors at the same venue owing to the COVID-19 situation.

The last West Indies hosted an international game was during Ireland’s tour in January 2020, and though they have played against England, New Zealand, and Bangladesh ever since, a home series remained elusive. The current tour was earlier scheduled to start from February 28, and that is when Cricket West Indies also had plans in place to keep one leg of the series in St Lucia, however, Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur and batsman Lahiru Thirimanne contracting COVID-19 led to a delay in the visitors’ arrival.

Given the need of concluding the series before the commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the board was forced to hold the series in its entirety in Antigua. The Coolidge Cricket Ground will make its international debut as a venue as it has been earmarked as the venue for the T20Is, whereas all three ODIs and the two Tests are scheduled at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The ODIs are a part of the World Cup Super League, a precursor to the ICC ODI World Cup 2021, while the Tests form part of the World Test Championship, although neither of the two sides is in contention to qualify for the final.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka Team News

Notably, Chris Gayle has been slotted into the international squad of West Indies for the first time in almost two years, whereas pacer Fidel Edwards, having last played against Sri Lanka in 2012, is back in the national reckoning after a nine-year break. Both Gayle and Edwards have been named in the T20I squad alongside the regular members Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder, and Evin Lewis, while Akeal Hosein and Kevin Sinclair have received maiden call-ups in both ODI and T20Is.

In a recent development, however, Cricket West Indies’ lead selector Roger Harper informed that Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, and Oshane Thomas have all been excluded from the white-ball fixtures due to their failure to reach the minimum fitness standards, whereas Sunil Narine has suggested that he is not ready for an international return.

For Sri Lanka, former skipper Dinesh Chandimal and spinner Akila Dananjaya are set to make a comeback while Dasun Shanaka has been appointed as the team’s new T20I captain, replacing Lasith Malinga. However, owing to a delay in obtaining a US transit visa, Angelo Mathews has been named as their stand-in captain.

After Mathews leads the teams in the T20Is, regular skipper Dimuth Karunaratne will take over for the ODI and Test legs. The visitors have lost the services of Lahiru Kumara, who tested COVID-19 positive days before the departure for the series, and Suranga Lakmal has been named a replacement. Sri Lanka also has two uncapped batsmen in opener Pathum Nissanka and middle-order batsman Ashen Bandara, whereas 20-year-old pacer Dilshan Madushanka and spin all-rounder Ramesh Mendis are the uncapped bowlers in the squad.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka squads

West Indies

ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (C), Shai Hope, Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair.

T20I squad: Kieron Pollard (C), Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair.

Test squad: To be declared.

Sri Lanka

Test and ODI Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Dasun Shanaka, Danushka Gunathilake, Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananajaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilshan Madushanka, Suranga Lakmal.

T20I squad: To be declared.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka Schedule

T20Is

March 3, 1st T20I at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

March 5, 2nd T20I at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

March 7, 3rd T20I at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

ODIs

March 10, 1st ODI  – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua

March 12, 2nd ODI – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua

March 14, 3rd ODI a-Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua

Warm-up

March 17-18, Two-day warm-up match – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua

Tests

March 21-25, 1st Test – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua

March 29 to April 2, 2nd Test – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua

Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 3:30 AM IST (T20Is); 7:00 PM IST (First two ODIs), 11:00 PM IST (3rd ODI); 7:30 PM IST (Tests)

TV and Live Streaming – To be updated