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Pakistan to play only two Tests in Sri Lanka, with the ODI series being cancelled

The three-match ODI series, which was not part of the ICC World Cup Super League, has been scrapped after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) requested PCB to remove ODIs because they plan to stage the Lanka Premier League (LPL) one week before the scheduled time.


Pakistan's men's team will now only play in the two-match Test series on their tour of Sri Lanka.


The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have also confirmed the news that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have requested that ODIs be removed because the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held one week earlier than planned.


Revealing about the League, PCB Director, Media, Sami-ul-Hasan Burney, said, "Sri Lankan board wants to start their league a week ago to reduce the financial deficit, so they asked us to remove the ODI series, which was accepted."


"Since the ODIs were not part of the World Cup Super League, we did not object. However, the final schedule of the series is still being discussed and will be released soon," the Director added.


The future of international cricket in Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is dependent on the Australia tour. If Australia rejects the island nation, the Asia Cup in August/September will be in jeopardy as well. CA is reviewing the situation and will make a final decision soon.


Meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have expressed concern about the situation in Sri Lanka. The Indian Premier League (IPL) outcome will determine whether the event will be held in Sri Lanka or not. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already been chosen as a backup location.


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'Root was doing so much behind the scenes that people don't see,' says Mark Wood

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