New Delhi, Oct 25: Cuttack will host the opening match of the hastily-arranged ODI series between India and Sri Lanka on November 2 after the West Indies‘ stunning pullout over a pay dispute. According to ‘ESPNCricinfo’, the schedule of the series has been released by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Ranchi will host the fifth and final ODI on November 16.
“Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Kolkata will host the second, third and fourth ODIs on November 6, 9 and 13. The Sri Lanka team will begin the tour in Mumbai on October 30 with a practice game against India A at Brabourne Stadium. They will be back in Colombo on November 18,” the website reported. Sri Lanka are filling in for the West Indies after the Caribbeans pulled out owing to a pay dispute with their Board. The visitors, who left the series after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala, were supposed to play a one off Twenty20 and a three-match Test series.
Sri Lanka’s offer to step in prompted the BCCI to agree to a tour of the island nation in July-August next year. They were scheduled to play Tests in India next year but that plan has now been reworked. Cuttack was scheduled to host the only T20 international against West Indies while Kolkata was the venue for the fifth ODI to celebrate 150 years of Eden Gardens.
