Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced a tri-nation T20I series featuring the hosts, India and Bangladesh. The tournament will be called Nidahas Trophy 2018 celebrating Sri Lanka’s 70 years of celebration. The tournament will start from March 8 to March 20. The series can be called as a mini-Asia Cup as Pakistan will not be featuring in the tournament. The tri-nation series will start after India’s tour of South Africa which is spread across January 5 to February 24. The series will be a chance for India to become No.1 in ICC T20I rankings and become the first team to be No.1 in ICC rankings at the same time across formats.
Here’s how Chief Executive of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reacted to the new tri-nation series.
SLC President Thilan Sumathipala quoted
70 years is a long journey, and one that needs to be commemorated and celebrated. We are happy that our closest neighbours, who share more or less the same journey of independence are joining us in this celebration, which we believe will be a milestone and an augur of thegreat things to come in the annals of cricket.
Rahul Johri too shared his comments on the upcoming series as well.
We are privileged to be a part of Sri Lanka’s 70th year celebrations, there is no closer friend to the BCCI than Sri Lanka [and Bangladesh] and when Mr. Sumathipala first floated this invitation, there was almost instant agreement that the Indian Team would participate for this reason
Nazmul Hasan lauded the boards of both the countries on their contribution towards Bangladesh cricket over the years. Hasan said,
The support and contribution of Sri Lanka [and India] in Bangladesh’s cricketing journey could not be overemphasized, and that this invitation was a clear testament to what a good friend Sri Lanka has been to Bangladesh’s Cricket. This Tournament too, would no doubt continue to strengthen the bonds between the 3 nations.
India have had experience on the Sri Lankan pitches. Their tour earlier in 2017 would help them counter the Asian teams. The last time India toured Sri Lanka, they did not lose a single game. They will be riding high on confidence.
