These are desperate times. The existences of various sporting bodies and properties are becoming questionable in these unprecedented times. Same is the case with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) whose entire home season is on the verge of collapse because of Covid19. The cricket world in the last 3 months has seen more than 100 days of international cricket being wiped out and millions of dollars lost in the bargain. But the Coronavirus pandemic has hit Sri Lanka the most among the top 10 test playing nations.
Sri Lanka Cricket – Most Home Series Lost
Each and every cricket board’s business model is dependent on their home series calendar. The revenues from the biggest source of income i.e the TV Rights comes from the number of matches each team plays at its home.
Amid Corona gloom all over, SLC is struggling to get its home series going. The Sri Lankan board has lost the most number of Home Series in comparison to every other test playing nation in time between Feb to June End.
Sri Lanka has lost its entire Home Season in 2020
vs England @ Home – 2TM
vs South Africa @ Home – 3ODI / 3T20
vs India @ Home – 3ODI / 3T20
vs Bangladesh @ Home 3TM ??
“We are in touch with all the cricket boards to reschedule the series. We are hopeful to get these series back in our calendar”, Ashley DeSilva, the CEO of SLC was quoted by a local newspaper recently.
In comparison, India (2 matches against SA), Australia (2 matches against NZ), England (0), New Zealand (0), Pakistan (0), South Africa (0), West Indies (0) have lost very less number of home matches which will result in minimal loss to their revenues from the bilateral cricket series.
“SLC may manage to reschedule some of the series at a later stage in the current ICC FTP cycle that ends with 2023 World Cup. But their current financial year is going blank. The revenues for the current financial year will take a big hit” says one of the media rights expert in the territory.
New headache for SLC – Will Bangladesh tour ?
SLC is currently without a broadcaster and team sponsor. The board is in the market since Feb 2020 but have not been able to finalize any deal. South Africa tour of SL has been cancelled, India tour of SL has been postponed and now there is a question mark over the Bangladesh tour to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh is slated to tour Sri Lanka in the month of July for 3 Test Matches but they are yet to confirm.
“Still we’re discussing with the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) whether the series can be held in July. We’re trying to fathom the advantages and disadvantages of the tour. But whatever the decision we take on the subject of the Sri Lanka tour, it’ll be finalized within the coming week,” said Nizamuddin Chowdhury – CEO of Bangladesh Cricket Board.
The situation by the day is getting alarming for SLC. The survival of SLC will now be dependent on the fact, how fellow boards support them in rescheduling the entire home calendar that the SLC has lost. The sustenance will get questionable for SLC if this support from the other boards fails to land in time.
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