One test match likely to be replaced by ODIs in the upcoming Sri Lanka vs West Indies series

West Indies was supposed to host a three-match test series against Sri Lanka in the month of June. But only ten days before the solo warm-up match scheduled to be played in Trinidad, Cricket West Indies has informed the visiting team that one of the test matches might get replaced with a couple of One Day Internationals.

According to the primary itinerary, the teams were about to play one warm-up game from May 30, and three test matches in Trinidad, St Lucia and Barbados, starting from June 6. But this announcement means this can be rescheduled with different dates and venues. CWI has shown financial concerns as the working force behind this decision.

Both boards have locked horns over the issue

However, Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said that the two boards have been in conversation over the issue and that the Windies board is indeed facing monetary troubles regarding hosting matches. But he also assures that there have been no words about postponing or complete cancellation of the tour.

“Most probably the boards will reduce the number of Test matches to two, and play a couple of one-dayers,” he said. “CWI is going through a bit of a crisis. They have been talking to us. They haven’t given us any indication that the tour might get postponed altogether.”

Over and above the existing troubles, hosting the series itself incurs a loss for CWI. The audience for the longer format of the game has anyway decreased exponentially over the last few years. Moreover, both the teams involved have a much lesser home audience, compared to other countries like India or Australia.

It has been a trend that series between smaller countries almost always result in less viewership and more loss. It is more prominent in the Caribbeans, and the time difference is a large factor there. Thus, the profit from sponsorship deals and broadcasting is not enough to cover the overall expenses of organising the series.

Previously in 2013, yet another test series was cut short because of the same problem, and instead, an ODI tri-series featuring India was played, thus assuring a good amount of television and digital viewership.

CWI is expected to intimate SLC about the details of the new schedule early next week. As of now, the dates, venues and match formats are up in the air.

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