England and Wales Cricket Board is aiming for an increase in the crowd capacity allowed in the stadiums for the upcoming home limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. The ECB is taking confidence from the UK government’s ‘Events Research Programme’ to bear the desired results and pave the way for increased crowds.
The Pakistan bilateral white-ball series that follows is also on ECB’s radar, but the immediate priority is ensuring a larger number of crowds are allowed to visit stadiums in England for the Sri Lanka leg of the summer.
“We are delighted to confirm that the ECB and our international venues are working with the Government’s Events Research Programme to increase capacities at the Royal London Series ODIs and Vitality IT20s against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in June and July,”
the ECB said in an official statement.
However, the first two T20Is scheduled for Cardiff, part of Wales, on June 23 and 24, are subject to separate discussions with the Welsh government, the ECB informed, adding that the government’s programme doesn’t include the third T20I to be held in Southampton on June 26th.
Nevertheless, ensuring more crowds for matches against Sri Lanka will be another major breakthrough for the ECB, which made sure 17,000 people were allowed to enter the stadium in Edgbaston on a daily basis for the second Test against New Zealand.
England will also be taking on Sri Lanka in three ODIs, part of the ICC Super League. which determines direct qualification spots for the 2023 World Cup. The three matches will be held on June 29, July 1 and 4 in Durham, The Oval, and Bristol.
The three lions will also take on Pakistan in another bilateral assignment featuring three T20Is and three ODIs and then face India in a five-Test series as part of their international summer calendar.
