Sri Lanka tour of England reworked due to Asian Games

A change of venues and dates will allow Sri Lanka women more time to prepare for the multi-sport event taking place in China between September and October

Nick Howson | 02/05/2023 at 11:16

Sri Lanka women's tour of England later this year has been brought forward to allow the team more time to prepare for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Chamari Athapaththu's side are due to play three T20Is and a trio of ODIs towards the end of the summer.

But following a request from Sri Lanka Cricket after the dates of the cricket competitions across September and October were confirmed, the ECB have unveiled a fresh schedule.

It sees the 20-over series begin on August 31 at Hove, two days earlier than originally planned, and continue at Chelmsford and Derby.

The subsequent ODIs will begin on September 9 at Chester-le-Street, before moving to Northampton and concluding at Grace Road on September 14 - five days earlier than stated in the first schedule.

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The 19th Asian Games is bound for Hangzhou in September and October (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

While the shift in dates are minimal, the change sees Kent's venue at Canterbury, which was due to host the third ODI, removed from the schedule.

Cricket returns to the Asian Games for the first time since 2014 with the men's and women's tournaments due to run between September 24 and October 7.

The 19th edition of the multi-sport event was postponed from 2022 due to the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in China.

While the changes have little impact on England, the tour will now begin just four days after the women's Hundred final at Lord's on August 27.

The Ashes schedule across June and July remains unaffected.

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