2021, much like 2020, is another year where Sri Lanka’s international calendar will be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s a look at the fixtures Sri Lanka are set to play in 2021.
Sri Lanka have been one of the busier sides in international cricket at the start of 2021. They started the year in South Africa, fulfilling a two-Test tour which they lost 2-0. This was followed by a rearranged home World Test Championship series against England, another series that they lost 2-0. After the first India-England Test at Chennai, Sri Lanka were placed in eighth spot in the World Test Championship standings.
The complete Sri Lanka schedule for 2021 is as below:
Note: The fixtures below are based on the ICC Future Tours Programme and reports, but are yet to be confirmed by individual boards.
Sri Lanka in West Indies (March)
Two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is
The multi-format tour of West Indies is set to go ahead in March, though there have been concerns over whether the trip will go ahead as plans after the positive Covid-19 tests of coach Mickey Arthur and batsman Lahiru Thirimanne. The Test leg of the tour forms part of the World Test Championship while the ODIs are part of the ICC’s Cricket World Cup Super League (CWCSL).
Sri Lanka in Bangladesh (May)
Three ODIs
Another rearranged tour, Sri Lanka’s trip to Bangladesh to play three CWCSL ODIs was originally set to take place in December 2020.
Sri Lanka in England (June)
Three ODIs, three T20Is
Sri Lanka are one of four men’s sides set to tour England in the summer of 2021. A white-ball only tour, the ODIs will again form part of the CWCSL – which will help determine the automatic qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup – while the T20Is will act as valuable preparation time in the build-up to the T20 World Cup later in 2021.
Asia Cup in Sri Lanka (June)
Originally scheduled to take place in 2020, the next edition of the Asia Cup is set to take place on Sri Lankan soil in mid-2021, and will be a T20 affair.
Afghanistan in Sri Lanka (July–August)
Three ODIs and three T20Is
A tour not yet confirmed by either board, but one pencilled in on the ICC’s Future Tours Programme.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021 (October-November)
The 2021 men’s T20 World Cup will be held in India in October-November. Sri Lanka were one of the first nine teams to qualify for the event based on ICC T20I team rankings.
Ireland in Sri Lanka (December)
One Test
According to a report on ESPNcricinfo, the Sri Lanka-Ireland Test – originally scheduled for early 2021 – will take place in December.
Sri Lanka in Bangladesh (December)
Two Tests
Another tour not yet confirmed but included in the ICC’s Future Tours Programme. The proposed two Test series is set to form a part of the 2023 World Test Championship final cycle.
