Next month, the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team will embark on a historic tour of Bangladesh, participating in both a three-match One Day International (ODI) series and a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today announced the official schedule, marking the first occasion that the Sri Lankan women will play a bilateral series on Bangladeshi soil across both formats.
According to the schedule, the Sri Lankan team is set to arrive in Bangladesh on 17 April, travelling directly to Rajshahi for pre-series preparations. On 18 and 19 April, the team will undergo training sessions to acclimatise to local conditions ahead of the opening ODI, which will be held at the Rajshahi Divisional Cricket Stadium on 20 April. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for 22 and 25 April at the same venue, with a two-day training interval between the second and third matches. All ODI fixtures will commence at 9:30 a.m. local time.
Upon completion of the ODI series, the Sri Lankan team will travel to Sylhet on 26 April, followed by a practice session on 27 April. The T20I series will kick off at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on 28 April, with the remaining two matches scheduled for 30 April and 2 May. Each T20I is set to start at 6:00 p.m., providing a prime-time window for fans to witness the action. The Sri Lankan side is scheduled to return home on 3 May.
Historically, the Sri Lanka women last competed in Bangladesh during the 2011 Women’s World Cup Qualifier, playing ODIs on Bangladeshi soil. Prior to that, they took part in the 2009 Women’s Tri-Nation Series, which featured Bangladesh and Pakistan. On that occasion, the Sri Lankan women emerged victorious, capturing the series title. This upcoming tour thus represents a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between the two cricketing nations.
Tour Schedule
| Series Format | Date | Venue | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODI 1 | 20 April | Rajshahi Divisional Cricket Stadium | 09:30 a.m. |
| ODI 2 | 22 April | Rajshahi Divisional Cricket Stadium | 09:30 a.m. |
| ODI 3 | 25 April | Rajshahi Divisional Cricket Stadium | 09:30 a.m. |
| T20I 1 | 28 April | Sylhet International Cricket Stadium | 06:00 p.m. |
| T20I 2 | 30 April | Sylhet International Cricket Stadium | 06:00 p.m. |
| T20I 3 | 2 May | Sylhet International Cricket Stadium | 06:00 p.m. |
Bangladesh’s women’s team will look to leverage home conditions to deliver a strong performance, while the Sri Lankan side will aim to build on their historical successes in the country. With both teams eager to showcase their skills, this inaugural bilateral series promises to be a landmark event for women’s cricket in Bangladesh.