BCCI says 'no' to T20I charity games in Sri Lanka for Cyclone Ditwah victims: Report
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly declined Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) request to play charity T20I matches in December to raise funds for victims affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused losses of USD 1.6 billion and claimed 600 lives in Sri Lanka. However, India’s planned tour of Sri Lanka in August—featuring two Tests and two T20Is—will go ahead as scheduled, confirmed SLC chairman Shammi Silva.
BCCI turns down December charity matches
Speaking to reporters, Silva revealed that SLC had proposed hosting two T20I charity games on December 27 and 29 to support cyclone reconstruction efforts, but the BCCI could not finalize the arrangements in time.
“We discussed a tour for two games on December 27 and 29 in aid of Ditwah cyclone reconstruction but could not finalize arrangements on the commercial side in time,” Silva said.
While the BCCI has not publicly commented on the reasons for declining the request, scheduling conflicts, player workload management, and commercial considerations are likely factors. The December window coincides with India’s domestic season and the lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2026, making it difficult to accommodate additional fixtures.
India’s August tour to proceed as planned
Despite the setback, Silva confirmed that India’s full tour will proceed as scheduled in August 2026, featuring two Tests and two T20Is. The tour is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and will be a key assignment for both teams.
SLC to donate proceeds from Pakistan T20I series
In the absence of the India charity matches, Silva announced that the proceeds from the three T20Is against Pakistan scheduled for next week in Dambulla will be donated to the cyclone recovery fund.
This move reflects SLC’s commitment to supporting relief efforts while continuing to fulfill its international cricket obligations.
SSC ground upgrades for T20 World Cup 2026
Silva also provided updates on SLC’s preparations for the men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins next month. A key focus has been the refurbishment of the iconic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground in Colombo, including the installation of floodlights to enable day-night matches.
“We are spending 1.75 billion LKR for installing floodlights in the short term,” said SLC treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyadda.
The pylons have been imported from India, while the lighting system will come from Italy. In the long term, the ground’s spectator capacity will be increased from 20,000 to 30,000.
SLC CEO Samantha Dodanwela emphasized that the SSC ground’s recognition was long overdue, given its status as the club with the best facilities in the city.
“In the long term we could hope to host day-night Tests here,” Dodanwela said.
However, contrary to some reports, no SLC official mentioned plans to host a day-night Test against India.
SSC to host T20 World Cup matches
The SSC ground will host the first match of the T20 World Cup—a day game between Pakistan and the Netherlands on February 7—along with four additional matches. The venue holds historical significance as the site of Sri Lanka’s first official ODI at home against England in 1982.