Zimbabwe to tour Sri Lanka, Galle set to host ODI after 17 years

The ODI cricket action is set to return to the Galle International Stadium after almost 17 years. Team Zimbabwe is set to tour Sri Lanka for their bilateral series later this month. During the tour, they will play 5 ODIs and a Test match. The first two ODIs of the five-match series will be played at Galle. After those two fixtures, the action will move down south for the other three matches.

The only Test match of the tour will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The other venue where international cricket will return for the three ODIs is Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium at Suriyawewa. The stadium was named after the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The stadium is constructed close to a thick jungle and this fact has already worked negatively for the venue.

It has hosted a few matches of the ICC World T20 2012 as well. The last ODI played at this venue was between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2015. Now, the stadium has been renovated ahead of the Zimbabwe tour to ensure that it hosts three ODIs.

“The stadium is to be renovated ahead of the Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka at the end of June this year and will host three of five One Day International matches of the tour,” a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) read.

On the other hand, the venue at Galle is set to see ODI cricket return after 17 years. The venue has been frequently hosting Test matches. The relatively lesser capacity of the stadium is the reason why the limited overs cricket deserted the venue. Talking about the Test match at Colombo, it will be Zimbabwe’s first Test on Sri Lankan soil after 15 years.

Fixtures:

June 30 – 1st ODI, Galle

July 2 – 2nd ODI, Galle

July 6 – 3rd ODI, Suriyewewa,

July 8 – 4th ODI, Suriyewewa

July 10 – 5th ODI, Suriyewewa

July 14-18 – Only Test, Colombo