India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh triangular series in 2018

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday proposed a triangular contest between India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for the Nidahas Trophy between March 15 and 30 next year to mark the island nation's 70th anniversary of independence, according to an espncricinfo report.

According to SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala, the tournament will consist of seven matches in all with each team playing the others twice, before the top two progress to the final. However, it is not yet clear if the matches will be Twenty20 Internationals or One-day Internationals (ODI).

"The (SLC) technical committee and cricket committee is looking into it, but at the moment we would like it to be a T20 triangular -- that's what the agreement is," Sumathipala said.

The proposed tournament, will however reduce the number of matches, the Lankans are set to play during their preceding tour of India. According to the Future Tours Programme (FTP), Sri Lanka are set to play five ODIs, and a T20I in India in March next year, which will follow three Tests.

Sumathipala said at least some of those matches would effectively be transmuted into Nidahas Trophy games, while Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri said the boards were still "working on" the exact schedule.

"We look forward to playing the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka next year, as it not only coincides with the 70th year of the independence of our nation, but the 70th anniversary of Sri Lanka Cricket," Sumathipala said.

"As our nations gained independence within a short span of each other in our contemporary history, this will no doubt be a significant moment of similar sentimental value for us to mark with pomp and pageantry as it rightfully warrants," he added.

--IANS

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