The second Test of the ongoing series between hosts Sri Lanka and Pakistan has been moved from Colombo to Galle due to the country’s political unrest. The first Test between the two subcontinent sides began on Saturday, July 16th, in Galle.
The decision to postpone the second Test came in the aftermath of recent events in the island nation, which saw protesters storm the previous President of the country’s mansion, finally leading to his resignation. The country’s Prime Minister is currently acting as temporary President as the country decides on its next President in the following days.
After consulting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the change in venue for the second Test on Sunday, citing the benefits to the ongoing series. The first Test is currently underway in Galle, and the squads will continue there for the second Test.
After two days of play, the first Test between the two sides is evenly poised, and spectators could be in for a dramatic early finish in the series opener. After Prabath Jayasuriya’s third consecutive five-wicket haul, Pakistani skipper Babar Azam stole the spotlight with his superb Test tonne.
The continuous instability in the country caused the SLC to postpone the Lanka Premier League because the tournament’s rights holders did not believe it was appropriate to play the competition in the country. The third edition of the event was scheduled to begin on August 1st, with the final on August 21st.
Another huge setback is that Sri Lanka will most certainly miss out on hosting the Asia Cup later this year, which is scheduled for August-September, with the UAE being a possible new host. Despite the PCB’s initial support, it appears likely Sri Lanka would be denied the right to host the tournament.
