Sri Lanka’s share of the T20 World Cup will go ahead without disruption despite the island nation recently being battered by a cyclone and severe flooding, tournament organisers have confirmed.
The global event, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, will see matches played across three Sri Lankan venues, all of which have been cleared following inspections in the wake of cyclonic storm Ditwah.
Cyclone Leaves Trail Of Devastation
The storm swept across Sri Lanka and parts of South-East Asia on November 27, bringing daily life to a standstill. Flooding and landslides claimed at least 634 lives, with more than 200 fatalities reported in the central city of Kandy, raising concerns over the tournament’s schedule. Those fears have now been allayed.
Venues Pass Inspections
Officials confirmed that damage to cricket infrastructure was minimal and has not affected readiness for the World Cup.
We are happy with the progress we have made and it is going to be a superb event. Sri Lanka has hosted ICC events before with great success, and we have no doubt this tournament will be another feather in our cap. Kandy has been cleared, as have the other two venues.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to host 20 of the tournament’s 55 matches. Should Pakistan progress deep into the competition, the island is also set to stage a semi-final and the final, as Pakistan are unable to travel to India due to long-standing political tensions.
Colombo Preparations In Final Stages
Work is nearing completion at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground, where new floodlights are being installed ahead of five scheduled matches. The R. Premadasa Stadium will host the majority of Sri Lanka’s fixtures, including the high-profile India–Pakistan clash on February 15.
There has been huge demand for tickets for the India–Pakistan game. We expect a surge of tourists into Colombo around that fixture, which will give a significant boost to the economy. Travel companies have already rolled out special packages, and we anticipate full houses for several marquee games.
Weather Unlikely To Play Spoilsport
Organisers are optimistic that weather interruptions will be minimal. Although rain affected some matches during the recent Women’s World Cup in Sri Lanka, February and March are traditionally dry months in both Colombo and Kandy.
India–Pakistan is the main attraction, no doubt,” the official added, “but games like Sri Lanka versus Australia are also keenly awaited.
