Sri Lanka to Participate in Limited Test Matches in Current WTC Cycle

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Test team captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, on Saturday urged Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to schedule a greater number of Test matches for the national squad. He emphasized that investing in the longer game format is essential for improving the country’s overall cricket performance.

Speaking to the press following Sri Lanka’s impressive victory against Bangladesh in the second Test, de Silva suggested that a more comprehensive red-ball schedule would greatly assist both individual players and the team’s structure.

“We are limited to domestic matches. Presently, we have a one-day tournament followed by a three-day event, along with the National Super League. We must use these to maintain our form because there are unfortunately no international Tests scheduled,” de Silva stated.

He highlighted that participating in more Test matches would provide players with opportunities to refine their abilities, increase their consistency, and ultimately enhance the team’s performance internationally.

“We have requested that SLC schedule more Tests. I believe they are in discussions with other cricket boards. Adding even three or four Test matches would allow us to build on our current progress.”

Earlier in the week, former captain Angelo Mathews also expressed his concerns about the decreasing number of Test matches for Sri Lanka, pointing out the necessity of more opportunities in the sport’s longest format.

During a pre-match press briefing, Mathews advised younger players to appreciate and prioritize Test cricket.

“To be honest, it is quite disheartening. The younger generation is very interested in playing more Test cricket,” he commented.

Mathews, who is one of Sri Lanka’s most seasoned cricketers with 118 Tests played, advocated for equal opportunities among all cricket-playing nations, drawing attention to the widening gap between the ‘Big Three’—India, Australia, and England—and other teams.

“It is the pinnacle of cricket, and we should strive for more. Teams like England, India, and Australia play more than 15 Tests each year—why can’t we?” he questioned.

Mathews also mentioned that opportunities for red-ball cricket are diminishing for teams outside the dominant trio.

“We have won World Cups and contributed significantly to cricket as a nation. We deserve to play as frequently as India, Australia, and England,” he asserted.

Notably, Sri Lanka is slated to participate in only four Test matches in 2025, which is their lowest number in a non-Covid year since 2013.

Under the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Sri Lanka is scheduled for just 12 Tests, tying with Bangladesh for the fewest, while Australia is set to play 22, England 21, and India 18.