Australia recently completed the tour of Pakistan and are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next. AP
Australia recently completed the tour of Pakistan and are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next. AP
Australia recently completed the tour of Pakistan and are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next. AP
Australia recently completed the tour of Pakistan and are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next. AP

Sport

Cricket

Australia monitor situation in Sri Lanka ahead of June tour

Political turmoil in island nation casts shadow over June 7-July 12 visit

The National

May 10, 2022

  • English
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Cricket Australia is monitoring the unrest in Sri Lanka with the national team due to tour the island nation in June and July.

Political turmoil has turned to violence as five people died and around 200 were injured during protests against the government amid the worst economic crisis in the country's history.

Australia had announced three full-strength squads for the tour, which includes a Twenty20 series, five ODIs as well as two Tests in Galle. An Australia 'A' team is also scheduled to play four matches.

The Australian Associated Press reported that "CA officials had until this point been certain the tour would go ahead, and remain confident. Head of security Stuart Bailey completed a reconnaissance tour of the country last month in the midst of the economic crisis, and it was cleared as safe to visit.

"CA officials will now start to monitor the situation more closely following Monday night's violence, but are still confident the tour will proceed."

Two of the T20 matches that kick off the tour early next month are in the capital Colombo, where the worst of Monday's violence took place, as are three of the ODIs and two of the 'A' matches.

Australia's players are scheduled to arrive into Colombo in three weeks for the start of their June 7-July 12 tour.

Last month, Australia completed their first tour of Pakistan since 1998 under "presidential-level" security, winning the three-Test series 1-0.

Protests in Sri Lanka

Violence raged across Sri Lanka late into the night on Monday, with five people dead and some 180 injured. AFP
Violence raged across Sri Lanka late into the night on Monday, with five people dead and some 180 injured. AFP
Sri Lanka's pro-government supporters vandalise camps of anti government protestors outside the president's office in Colombo. AP Photo
Sri Lanka's pro-government supporters vandalise camps of anti government protestors outside the president's office in Colombo. AP Photo
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa quit on May 9 after a day of violence saw four people, including an MP, killed. AFP
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa quit on May 9 after a day of violence saw four people, including an MP, killed. AFP
Government supporters armed with sticks and clubs attack protestors. AFP
Government supporters armed with sticks and clubs attack protestors. AFP
Demonstrators scuffle with police outside the president's office in Colombo. AFP
Demonstrators scuffle with police outside the president's office in Colombo. AFP
Demonstrators and government supporters clash. AFP
Demonstrators and government supporters clash. AFP
Police personnel stand guard outside the president's office. AFP
Police personnel stand guard outside the president's office. AFP
Destroyed vehicles litter the street after anti-government protesters rioted in Colombo. AFP
Destroyed vehicles litter the street after anti-government protesters rioted in Colombo. AFP
Pro-government supporters hold Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's portrait while protesting. AFP
Pro-government supporters hold Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's portrait while protesting. AFP
A bus burns close to Sri Lanka's outgoing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. AFP
A bus burns close to Sri Lanka's outgoing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's official residence in Colombo. AFP
Anti-government protesters destroy a bus in Colombo. AFP
Anti-government protesters destroy a bus in Colombo. AFP
Army personnel stand guard outside the president's office in Colombo. AFP
Army personnel stand guard outside the president's office in Colombo. AFP
Supporters of the Sri Lankan government attempt to block a police water canon truck. AFP
Supporters of the Sri Lankan government attempt to block a police water canon truck. AFP
People gather near a burning bus in Colombo. AFP
People gather near a burning bus in Colombo. AFP
Anti-government demonstrators set fire to the house owned by Cabinet Minister Sanath Nishantha. Reuters
Anti-government demonstrators set fire to the house owned by Cabinet Minister Sanath Nishantha. Reuters
Sri Lankans push a bus, transporting government supporters who attacked anti-government protesters, into a lake in Colombo. AP Photo
Sri Lankans push a bus, transporting government supporters who attacked anti-government protesters, into a lake in Colombo. AP Photo
A policeman fires tear gas during a clash. AFP
A policeman fires tear gas during a clash. AFP
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday over the country’s dire economic state and violence at mass protests outside his home in Colombo, his spokesman Rohan Weliwita said. AP
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday over the country’s dire economic state and violence at mass protests outside his home in Colombo, his spokesman Rohan Weliwita said. AP
Demonstrators and government supporters clash outside the official residence of Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, who offered his resignation to his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. AFP
Demonstrators and government supporters clash outside the official residence of Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, who offered his resignation to his younger brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. AFP
A man suffers after being sprayed with tear gas as cars burn on the streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP
A man suffers after being sprayed with tear gas as cars burn on the streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka. AP
Paramilitary police arrive as demonstrators and government supporters clash. AFP
Paramilitary police arrive as demonstrators and government supporters clash. AFP
Sri Lankan government supporters cheer outside the prime minister's residence in Colombo. AP
Sri Lankan government supporters cheer outside the prime minister's residence in Colombo. AP
Supporters of the ruling party run as riot police fire tear gas during clashes in Colombo, amid the country's economic crisis. Reuters
Supporters of the ruling party run as riot police fire tear gas during clashes in Colombo, amid the country's economic crisis. Reuters
A policeman stands guard in riot gear. AP
A policeman stands guard in riot gear. AP
Water cannon are fired during a confrontation with anti-government demonstrators. Reuters
Water cannon are fired during a confrontation with anti-government demonstrators. Reuters
Supporters of Sri Lanka's ruling party run in Colombo as police fire tear gas during a clash with anti-government demonstrators. Reuters
Supporters of Sri Lanka's ruling party run in Colombo as police fire tear gas during a clash with anti-government demonstrators. Reuters
A Sri Lankan Catholic priest, centre in a white robe, is among anti-government protesters being attacked by supporters of the ruling party outside the prime minister's residence. AP
A Sri Lankan Catholic priest, centre in a white robe, is among anti-government protesters being attacked by supporters of the ruling party outside the prime minister's residence. AP
Tears after anti-government protesters were attacked by supporters of the ruling party in Colombo. AP
Tears after anti-government protesters were attacked by supporters of the ruling party in Colombo. AP
Violence flares between demonstrators and government supporters outside the president's office in Colombo. AFP
Violence flares between demonstrators and government supporters outside the president's office in Colombo. AFP
Activists stage a mock ritual to 'exorcise demons' outside the official residence of Sri Lanka's prime minister. AFP
Activists stage a mock ritual to 'exorcise demons' outside the official residence of Sri Lanka's prime minister. AFP
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Updated: May 11, 2022, 10:02 AM
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