Sri Lanka Announces Historic Tour After Five Years Of Wait

Sri Lanka to tour West Indies after 5 years [Source: AFP]

In a historic announcement, Sri Lanka confirmed an away series with a former T20 World Cup champion team. This series is special, as the tour is happening after a gap of five long years.

Sri Lanka cricket has had its problems internally lately. However, that friction has not put a stoppage to the organisation's ties with other international boards.

Sri Lanka to tour the West Indies in 2026

As officially confirmed, Sri Lanka are set to tour the Caribbean for the first time in five years, with a full bilateral series against the West Indies scheduled across June and July 2026.

The tour will feature two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, marking a significant return to red-ball and white-ball rivalry between the two sides.

Moreover, the series begins with the ODI leg on June 3, followed by matches on June 6 and June 8 at Sabina Park in Kingston.

On the other hand, the T20I series will be played on June 11, 13, and 14 before attention shifts to the longer format. 

The first Test is scheduled to begin on June 25, while the second Test starts on July 3, with both matches set to be hosted at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Sri Lanka tour of West Indies, 2026 Schedule

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When did Sri Lanka last tour the West Indies?

For context, this series is more special because Sri Lanka last toured the West Indies in 2021, where the two-match Test series ended in a draw, although the visitors struggled in the ODI leg, losing all three matches. 

Later that year, the West Indies travelled to Sri Lanka for a Test series, which the hosts won convincingly. More recently, the teams met in Sri Lanka in 2024 for a three-match ODI series, where the home side secured a 2-1 victory.

Hence, the upcoming tour is an opportunity for both sides to revive the competitive rivalry and improve their gameplay as per international cricket standards.

Sri Lanka and the West Indies’ recent form

It’s important to note that Sri Lanka last participated in the T20 World Cup 2026, where they finished at the bottom of Group 2 of the Super 8 stage after failing to win a single game.

Since then, Sri Lanka cricket has hit a low. Firstly, the board was dismissed by the government over corruption charges. Not only that, the government-controlled administration introduced strict fitness rules for players.

As for the West Indies, they also participated in the T20 World Cup 2026, but the former champions couldn’t make a deep run. Despite qualifying for the Super 8 stage, they finished third in Group 1 after losing to India and South Africa.

West Indies cricket has also seen a lot of ups and downs in recent years. While their red-ball team is in shambles, the T20I squad is still strong and competitive. Hence, the upcoming series will be crucial for them to improve their performance.

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