ODI series scrapped for Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka due to crisis in Sri Lanka

On the request of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board, the three-match ODI series scheduled to be played on Pakistan's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka has been cancelled. 

After which, now Pakistan will tour Sri Lanka in the month of July-August for just two test matches. The ODI series was not included in the ICC World Cup Super League, while the Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2021–23.

The economic and political issues that have been happening in Sri Lanka in recent times have played a role in the cancellation of the ODI series between the Sri Lanka cricket team and the Pakistan cricket team. Since there is a power outage in Sri Lanka, hosting day-night matches will be difficult.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) is keeping an eye on the developing situation in Sri Lanka as the Australia cricket team tour the Island nation for two Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is later this year.

Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) media director Sami-ul-Hasan Burney revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) requested the cancellation of ODIs so that they can schedule the Lanka Premier League (LPL) a week before because of the financial crisis.

PCB Director Media Sami-ul-Hasan Burney was quoted by Cricket Pakistan as saying: “The Sri Lankan board wants to start their league a week early to reduce the financial losses, so they asked us to skip the ODI series, which has been accepted."

He concluded by saying: "Since the ODIs were not part of the World Cup Super League, we didn't mind. The final schedule of the series is still being discussed and will be released soon."