Sri Lanka Cricket plan to drop ODIs against Pakistan from upcoming bilateral series: Reports

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is reportedly planning to exclude One-Day Internationals (ODIs) from the bilateral series against Pakistan scheduled for next month.

SLC and its counterpart Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially planned to play a few ODI matches along with the two-match Test series in the island nation. But a recent media report from Cricket Pakistan suggests the Sri Lanka board will drop the white-ball matches because of unforeseen circumstances.

SLC is expected to announce the schedule for the two Tests soon. The red-ball series is also part of the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

This situation is similar to the one from last year, when Sri Lanka and Pakistan were scheduled to play three ODIs and two Tests. The SLC opted against the ODIs then too, since it wasn't a part of the World Super League, and the two teams played just the two Tests in Galle.

Sri Lanka are currently engaged in a three-match ODI series at home against Afghanistan, while Pakistan last played New Zealand last month.

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Pakistan unlikely to host Asia Cup 2023

Pakistan's chances of hosting the 2023 Asia Cup (ODI) are in doubt. Reports suggest that BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council, recently rejected the hybrid model proposed by the PCB.

Pakistan wanted to host four group matches in their country and the other matches, including the ones involving India, at a neutral venue.

According to Telegraph India, Pakistan will be informed during the next executive board meeting of the ACC that all other participating nations have agreed for the tournament to be hosted in Sri Lanka.

If that happens, then the 2022 Asia Cup finalists will either have to play in Sri Lanka or withdraw from the continental event. The Asia Cup dates are expected to be announced once the venue is decided.