“We have drawn up the matches in such a manner that the national team gets every opportunity to mature into a strong unit by 2017. A lot of thought process was gone through keeping in mind that the team was going through a period of transition,”said Sri Lanka Cricket’s Head of Cricket Operations Carlton Bernadus.

“The pathway for the younger generation of youth has been set on course consideration the retirements of senior cricketers envisaged,” he said.

“With a view in mind of the T20 World Cup in India, the Sri Lanka Cricket management has provided the opportunity by arranging T20 against Pakistan and West Indies and moving forward New Zealand, India and Asia Cup as a prelude to the World T20 in India.”

“In addition it has provided Test and ODI opportunities thus covering all three formats. This could be a springboard for the younger generation of cricketers stepping into the shoes of senior cadres keeping in mind the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the Cricket World Cup in 2019 both in England,” Bernadus said.

The preparation for the ICC Champions trophy in England in 2017 also has a carefully thought out schedule.

Sri Lanka will play a series of five ODIs in New Zealand which will followed by a further five ODIs in England, five at home against Australia, a tri-series in India and then 3 ODIs in Zimbabwe and 5 ODIs in South Africa.

The Test schedule where Sri Lanka will be really tested will see the national side playing a total of 13 Tests within a period of 12 months ” 2 v New Zealand, 3 v England, 3 v Australia, 2 v Zimbabwe and 3 v South Africa.

Following Sri Lanka’s tour to New Zealand that will take place from December 3 to January 10, Sri Lanka Cricket has drawn up an intense program for the national, ‘A’team, Development Squad and the Under 19 cricketers for the calendar year 2016.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka under 19 cricketers will play a one-day triangular with England and India next month in preparation for the ICC under 19 World Cup in Bangladesh in January. The tournament will be held from December 3-22 and all matches will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium with live TV coverage.

INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR FOR 2016

NATIONAL TEAM

Feb 10-21:Tour to India (3 T20Is)

Feb 24-Mar 6:Asia Cup in Bangladesh

Mar 11-Apr 3:ICC World T20 in India

May 4-July 6:Tour to England (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

July-Aug:Tour by Australia (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

Sep:Tri series in India (Sri Lanka , India, New Zealand)

Oct-Nov:Tour to Zimbabwe (2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

Dec-Feb:Tour to South Africa (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 2 T20Is)

‘A’ TEAM

June:Tour by Zimbabwe

Dec:Tour by West Indies

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

June: Tour to South Africa

Sep:Moin-Ud-Dowla Gold Cup in India

Oct-Nov: Tour to Bangladesh

UNDER 19

May-June: Tour by South Africa

Oct-Nov: Tour to Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has invited 25 of Sri Lanka’s top cricketers for the BPL, but Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee has taken a decision not to grant them permission to participate as they want the players to be focussed on the upcoming tour of New Zealand starting next month.

The list of players invited includes those from the National, ‘A’ and T20 teams who will be involved in matches during the New Zealand tour.

Those invited are: Chamara Kapugedera, Dilshan Munaweera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Isuru Udana, Dilruwan Perera, Chaturanga de Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dhammika Prasad, Milinda Siriwardana, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kosala Kulasekara, Binura Fernando, Ajantha Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kituruwan Vithanage, Niroshan Dickwella, Prasanna Jayawardene, Ashan Priyanjan, Sachith Pathirana, Sachitra Senanayake, Nuwan Kulasekara, Seekkuge Prasanna, Upul Tharanga, Jeevan Mendis.

“We have not approved the players contracted to us centrally and provincially because we have an important tour of New Zealand coming up and want them to be fully concentrated on it,” said Sri Lanka Cricket’s Head of Operations Carlton Bernadus.

“Recently Sri Lanka Cricket enhanced the fees for all the players participating in our domestic tournaments,” he pointed out.

Bernadus said the respective clubs were responsible for releasing cricketers who are outside the SLC contracts.