Sri Lanka Cricket announced on Monday that all proceeds from ticket revenue for three Twenty20 internationals, five one-day internationals, and two Test games will be dedicated to community social welfare.
Australia’s Tour will be beneficial for Srilanka during this crisis
“People are going through a difficult moment,” SLC Secretary Mohan de Silva has said in Colombo.
“Despite the difficulties we face as a nation, we are grateful to Cricket Australia and the Australian government for sponsoring this series.” The island nation is in the grip of its greatest economic crisis since its independence in 1948, on the verge of bankruptcy and burdened with so much foreign debt that it has no money left for basic imports. Sri Lankans are unable to get basic essentials such as food, gasoline, medication, and cooking gas.
Sri Lanka Cricket has previously contributed USD 2 million to the medical sector in order to purchase necessary medications.
When the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic, cricket in Sri Lanka was usually played in stadiums without audience for two years, however a 50% maximum audience was let in for the test series against the West Indies in Galle last December.
The series will begin on Tuesday with a T20 match at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, marking the first time Sri Lankan supporters have been permitted inside venues for limited-overs events since the epidemic began.
The T20s on Tuesday and Wednesday were sold out within five hours of being on sale on Saturday.
The Australian T20 world champions named a powerful XI, including Steve Smith in the middle order in place of Josh Inglis, to face Sri Lanka in the series opener.
“We’ve played several tight games versus Sri Lanka throughout the years.” “They are a good squad with some brilliant players,” said Australia skipper Aaron Finch.
“During the IPL, someone like Wanindu Hasaranga was a problem even on flat grounds.”
Hasaranga joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League for USD 1.3 million and finished as the competition’s second-highest wicket scorer.