Sri Lanka to host India and Bangladesh in a tri-series in March 2018

What’s the story?

Sri Lanka will play host to a tri-series in March 2018, confirmed Sri Lanka Cricket Board’s chief, Thilanga Sumathipalasm, during a media interaction at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Wednesday.

"We celebrate the 70th year of our independence next year and SLC also completes 70 years in 2018. We are happy that both BCCI and BCB have confirmed their participation for the tri-nation series," Sumathipala said.

Sumathipala also said the board would like to invite the Indian and Bangladesh Prime Ministers for the event.

"We are keen to invite the Indian and Bangladesh Prime Minister as well for the finals of this event," the chief added.

In case you did not know

The series will be a part of Sri Lanka’s 70th Independence celebrations and will be played from March 15 to 31^st 2018 and will be called the Nidhas Trophy. Nidhas in Sanskrit means independence. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have previously conducted such tourneys to celebrate their 50th independence anniversary.

The heart of the matter

The other two teams featuring in the tournament will be India and Bangladesh. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and BCB President Nazmul Hassan were both present during today’s interaction. The tournament will have six games in the first round where each team will play another twice. The top two teams will then battle it out for the ultimate prize in the final. Also, India will be travelling to the island country in July this year as well where to play three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two T20s.

What’s next?

The tournament will give all three teams the opportunity to check out their team combinations and try different things before the World Cup in 2019. It will also be a platform for youngsters to impress and cement a place in their respective sides.

Author’s take

Such tournaments are indeed needed to spread the game in the subcontinent and therefore the gesture from the Sri Lankan board is highly appreciated. The game has grown by leaps and bounds in the island country in recent years but still one gets to see a lack of sponsors and empty seats while an international game is in progress. Maybe this tournament will change it all.