India, Pakistan, SA to play for Independence Cup in SL

Arch rivals India and Pakistan will play alongside Sri Lanka and South Africa in a four-nation Independence Cup in Sri Lanka in 2018, Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala confirmed.

This will be the first time that India and Pakistan will face each other in any event apart from ICC and ACC’s major competitions since 2012/2013.

Sri Lanka will host the tournament as part of their 70th Independence day celebrations.

According to Sumathipala, India agreed to participate in the series after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe discussed this with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi .

“The Indians would be visiting South Africa in the time when we are scheduling the tour, so this matter will be discussed with India and South Africa during the next month’s ICC meeting in Dubai regarding Independence Cup and then we all (Sri Lanka, India, South Africa and Pakistan) will accommodate each other,” he further added.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board will soon reveal the dates and venues of the quadrangular cricketing eventevent once the formal procedures are done and dusted.

To be noted, Sri Lanka gained their independence from colonial rule in 1948 and will celebrate their 70th year of independence in 2018.