Nidahas Trophy 2018: Tournament to go ahead as scheduled

The future of Nidahas Trophy was looking bleak following the 10-day emergency announced in Sri Lanka by its Government. The reason for the same was the growing unrest between the Buddhist and Muslim communities in Kandy. The riots and arson attacks also took place in the central city of the country which led to the stern action to be taken the on the people instigating the same. However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has cleared that the tournament will remain unaffected despite the emergency.

The first T20I is set to be played between the hosts Sri Lanka and India at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. All the tickets for the match have been sold and a jam-packed crowd will be witnessing the action in the middle. The remaining matches of the series are also expected to garner a similar response given the popularity of the shortest format of the game.

SLC and BCCI reacts

Ashley de Silva, the CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) cleared any doubts over the future of Nidahas Trophy. “The matches are being played in Colombo and will go on as per schedule,” he said while speaking to Cricbuzz. Even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also issued a notice regarding the same.

“There have been reports of curfew and an emergency being called in Sri Lanka. The situation in picture is Kandy and not Colombo. This is to notify everyone that after talking to concerned security personnel (Ministerial security division – in charge of team security) we have understood that the situation is completely normal in Colombo. If at all there is any update on the same we shall notify,” the statement read.

All the matches of the tournament will be played at the same venue in Colombo as three teams will be playing each other twice before the top two making it to the finals.

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