SLC thanks BCCI as India series generates USD 14.5 million in revenue

As it was widely expected, India’s tour of Sri Lanka last month has proven to be a wealth-generating series for Sri Lanka Cricket. The board has been able to generate a revenue of USD 14.5 million (INR 107 crore) according to its secretary Mohan de Silva.

Discussing the behind the scenes negotiations that took place between the BCCI and the SLC, de Silva has said that the SLC President Shammi Silva “persuaded” the Indian board to organise both ODI and T20 series on the tour. 

“According to the FTP (Future Tours Program) the tour was only for three ODIs, but our President Shammi Silva managed to persuade the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to give us an additional three T20Is which resulted in the enhancement of the commercial value. It was made possible because of the relationship we have cultivated with the Indian Cricket Board. We got $ 14.5 million from broadcasting and other rights like ground, etc.,” de Silva was quoted as saying by the Daily FT.

He also highlighted the “cordial relationship” between the BCCI and the SLC that made the series possible even in mid of the raging pandemic. He said that the Indian government too helped in organising the tour that has proven to be financially beneficial for Sri Lanka.

“The fact that the BCCI and the Indian Government gave the blessings for their team to come to Sri Lanka during the pandemic times and meet their commitments was also due to the cordial relationships we have with the BCCI. Without their encouragement we would not have been able to go ahead with this tour which resulted in a lucrative commercial value and revenue coming into Sri Lanka,” de Silva said.

Indian team rose through many challenges on the tour of Sri Lanka but the BCCI never called off the series. At the start of the tour, they were concerned at the reporting of multiple Covid-19 cases in the hosts camp while their own players tested positive later in mid of the T20 series.

De Silva thanked the Indian team that toured in the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan and Rahul Dravid for choosing to play despite Covid-19 concerns expressed by all including the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.

“Even the Indian High Commissioner was concerned and the BCCI. In this context, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of SLC to the management of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid and the others, and the BCCI who monitored the situation. They wanted certain guidance given by us and the assurances, which we did by moving the patient to another hotel and so on, and we continued with the tour,” he said.

India had won the ODI series by 2-1 while the hosts came back strongly in the T20 series against a depleted Indian side to win the T20 series by an equal margin.