Ireland hit by further fixture blow as Sri Lanka Test is postponed

A one-off five-day game was scheduled to be played in February but with the fixture not part of the current broadcast agreement a new date will be sought

Sri Lanka have confirmed the proposed one-off Test against Ireland scheduled for February 2020 will be postponed.

With the fixture - due to take place in Galle between February 8-12 - not part of Sri Lanka Cricket's current broadcast agreement, a new date will be sought.

A fresh deal is due to be agreed next year, after which the Test will be rescheduled.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said: “We understand that ICC regulations require all Tests to be broadcast, and it became clear only recently that this one-off match was no exception.

"We were far progressed in our planning for this short tour, so we and the travelling squad are obviously disappointed. Most of all, we are deeply sorry for those family, friends, cricket fans and media who would have gone to such trouble to make arrangements to travel to Galle for the match.

"Rest assured we shall work as quickly as possible with SLC to identify an alternative slot for the match and we shall communicate that as soon as it is confirmed."

Ireland shelve Bangladesh Test and Afghanistan T20 series due to "financial constraints"

With Ireland not part of the current World Test Championship cycle, their matches are already vulnerable in an already busy international calendar.

It is another blow to their 2020 plans after they were forced to shelve a Test against Bangladesh and a three-match T20 international series with Afghanistan due to financial issues.

Since attaining full Test status, Cricket Ireland have not enjoyed the financial windfall they had anticipated - forcing them to reassess their priorities.

Another one-off Test against Afghanistan might also be lost, as attention turns fully to preparing for the T20 World Cup in Australia next October and November.

They are also due to face Zimbabwe in the red-ball format and in five T20s in April but it remains to be seen how a truncated first half of the year unfolds.

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