On Friday (November 17), Sri Lanka Cricket disclosed the fixtures of the tri-nation Twenty-20 International series named “Nidahas Trophy 2018”. The 3 neighbouring countries will play 7 T20Is at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo from the 8th to 20th of March 2018.
The tri-nation series will be organized to celebrate the Sri Lanka’s 70th year of independence. A similar tournament was also played in 1998 among the 3 nations to celebrate Sri Lanka's 50 years of independence and Sri Lanka Cricket’s 50th year as well.
Speaking at the launch, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri said: "We are privileged to be a part of Sri Lanka's 70th year celebrations, there is no closer friend to the BCCI than Sri Lanka [and Bangladesh] and when Mr. Sumathipala first floated this invitation, there was almost instant agreement that the Indian Team would participate for this reason."
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Representing Bangladesh Cricket during the event, BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon stated that “the support and contribution of Sri Lanka [and India] in Bangladesh’s cricketing journey could not be overemphasized, and that this invitation was a clear testament to what a good friend Sri Lanka has been to Bangladesh’s Cricket.”
“This Tournament too, would no doubt continue to strengthen the bonds between the 3 nations,” he added.
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SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala, who has played an instrumental role in organizing the forthcoming tri-nation series and also the one in 1998, said that “70 years is a long journey, and one that needs to be commemorated and celebrated. We are happy that our closest neighbours, who share more or less the same journey of independence are joining us in this celebration, which we believe will be a milestone and an augur of the great things to come in the annals of cricket.”
The Nidahas Trophy matches will start at 7 PM local time and it will be held from March 8 to March 20. Each team will face each other twice, culminating in the final to be played on the 20th.
