Sri Lanka Cricket wants the next ICC Future Tours Programme to give it more Tests against India, England and Australia, with Kamindu Mendis part of a side that needs far more red-ball cricket to settle into the format.
The message from the interim committee is straightforward: Sri Lanka have not played enough Test matches, and that shortage is hurting both their cricket and their planning. A year-long hiatus ended only when they faced the West Indies in June-July, and they are now in a two-match series against India.
Eran Wickramaratne said the problem is tied to the international calendar and the congestion caused by T20 and 50-over cricket. He also made clear that Sri Lanka want more tours from the biggest names in Test cricket.
“I think it's the international calendar which is causing this issue of us not playing enough Tests, and this is the format we want to do well. But the tours are determined by the FTP and we're hoping to have more tours with India in the next (World Test Championship) cycle,” Wickramaratne said.
Why Sri Lanka want the biggest tours
The wider point is not just competitive. Wickramaratne was explicit that India, England and Australia are the fixtures that matter most, both for cricketing value and for the scale of attention they bring.
“We've heard that we'll have a few more (tours) in the next cycle so we're keeping our fingers crossed. But obviously India, England, Australia are the teams that the entire world is looking at playing and I think we want to make sure that we get tours from those countries,” he said.
That is the reality of modern international cricket. Sri Lanka want to strengthen their Test cricket, but they also know the global calendar is crowded and that touring the subcontinent or bringing major sides to Sri Lanka is not as simple as it once was.
Wickramaratne said Sri Lanka are scheduled to play 10 Test matches, but only after what he described as a year in which they have played hardly anything. For a team trying to establish consistency in the format, that is a serious imbalance.
“Yes, we need a balance and now we are scheduled to play 10 Test matches whereas we've played hardly anything this year. So, I think we need to rework our FTP and see how it goes,” he said.
India remain central to the plan
There is also a practical side to Sri Lanka's request. Wickramaratne acknowledged that India are central to the equation, not only because of their standing in the game but because of the financial reality around the sport.
“I think it's the T20 and 50-over cricket which has congested the calendar in a sense. But we want to play India because the truth is we depend on India a lot, and they are also the financial power in cricket,” he said.
He added that he had spoken to Jay Shah and that BCCI's Devajit Saikia had recently visited. The tone, he suggested, was constructive.
“We want to make sure that we work together in building cricket here and across the world. We need the support of India and we really appreciate the support we get,” Wickramaratne said.
He also noted the obvious obstacle: India have their own packed schedule and do not always find it easy to tour Sri Lanka. That makes the next FTP cycle especially important if Sri Lanka are to get the red-ball opportunities they want.
“India is also stuck with a tight calendar of their own and they struggle to come here. But for us it would be great if we can have more teams coming and playing here but I guess it will depend on the international calendar. Yes, we had a very good meeting. They were very good with us,” he said.
Governance changes add to the wider reset
The push for more Tests sits alongside broader governance changes inside Sri Lanka Cricket. Sidath Wettimuny said the board needs to adapt, with independent directors among the reforms discussed by the interim committee.
“Like India had the Lodha commission, other boards in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia did make some changes. So we need to change with the times and one of the most fundamental things that we have done in this current constitution is having independent directors as well, not all elected,” he said.
For Sri Lanka, the immediate issue is clear enough. They want more red-ball cricket, more meaningful Test tours and a schedule that gives players like Kamindu Mendis a better platform in the format.
Whether the ICC Future Tours Programme can deliver that remains to be seen, but Sri Lanka have made their position plain: they want more Tests, and they want them against the teams that matter most.
