ThePapare.com learns from reliable sources that Sri Lanka is set to host Bangladesh for two Tests, three ODIs and two T20Is in March/April 2017.
Sri Lanka will return home in late February after the completion of the current bi-lateral South Africa series and T20I series in Australia. Bangladesh will finish their current New Zealand tour in late January and will play their first-ever Test match on Indian soil in February before moving to Sri Lanka for a full tour.
It will be an interesting series for Bangladesh as they have never beaten Sri Lanka in Test cricket since gaining Test status in the year 2000 but will look to change history this time around. They tamed England at home in October for the very first time and under a Sri Lankan coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, the Bangla Tigers have been brilliant in the last 18 months.
Bangladesh last travelled to Sri Lanka in 2013 where the hosts won the two-match Test series, 1-0, the ODI series was leveled at 1-1 and the only T20I was won by the home team.
After hosting the second match against Australia, Galle has been granted the opportunity to host the first Test this time around. With the ‘Big Match’ season also happening during March, P. Sara Oval has been preferred over SSC to host the second Test match in Colombo.
Hambanthota, which last hosted an international game in 2015, will have its first ODI since then followed by two ODI games in Dambulla while Khettarama will host both the T20Is.
Proposed Tour Itinerary
1st Test Match – 7-11 March – Galle International Stadium
2nd Test Match – 15-19 March – P. Sara Oval Grounds1st ODI Match – 25 March – Mahinda Rajapaksha International Stadium, Hambanthota
2nd ODI Match – 29 March – Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
3rd ODI Match – 1 April – Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium1st T20I Match – 5 April – R. Premadasa International Stadium
2nd T20I Match – 8 April – R. Premadasa International Stadium
