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The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been moved to Galle from the capital city Colombo, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board announced on Sunday.
The SLC said that the decision was taken in order to ease out the logistical challenges faced by the stakeholders in carrying out tour-related operations due to the prevailing situations in the country.
The first Test between hosts Sri Lanka and Pakistan are currently underway in Galle and the second Test is scheduled to start from July 24.
Interestingly, this is also for the first time such a measure has been taken, keeping in mind both the Indian women's cricket team and the Australian men's cricket team have had recently toured the island nation.
Both the tours involving Australia and India went on smoothly, with the Australians also praising the Sri Lankans for hosting them amid the spiralling economic crisis in the country.
Not just this, but in a double whammy to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2022 has been postponed after the announcement of shifting the upcoming Asia Cup from Sri Lanka to UAE.
The LPL which was scheduled to be played from August 1-22, 2022 has been shelved owing to the current political and economic imbroglio in the Island Nation.
“Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wishes to announce that the Lanka Premier League 2022, which was scheduled to be held from 1st to 21st August 2022 will be postponed, with immediate effect," said the statement from SLC.
“This decision was taken by the SLC, following a request made by the Innovative Production Group FZE (IPG), the Rights Holder of the tournament, which cited the current ‘economic situation,’ in the country, as not conducive to hosting the tournament," the statement added.
A total of five teams play in the Lanka Premier League- Colombo Stars, Dambulla Giants, Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Kings and Kandy Falcons - battling for the coveted trophy in Sri Lanka where each team face each other in double round-robin format with the top four at the end of the league heading into the playoffs.
Even in more favourable economic conditions, however, the league has had problems with funding. It had had little continuity since its outset, with last year's tournament seeing only two of the original five franchise owners returning.
The board did not immediately announce when the postponed league would take place.
Despite the crisis, Sri Lanka had successfully hosted Australia for a month-long series that ended last week.
Currently, Sri Lanka are hosting Pakistan at home for a two-Test series.
