New ICC Test Championship cycle commences at Galle today

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- By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

SRI Lanka and Bangladesh will commence their first series of a new ICC Test Championship cycle (2025-27), at the Galle International Cricket Stadium today with both teams keen to get the maximum points on the board.

Sri Lanka have come twice close to qualifying for the final but have failed to grasp the opportunities that have come their way due to the inconsistency in their cricket. They finished 7th in the inaugural series (2019-21), 5th in 2021-23 and 6th in 2023-25.

In Bangladesh’s case they have hardly proved a threat in the Test Championship finishing at the bottom of the standings in the first two years (2019-21 and 2021-23) and 7th in the recently concluded cycle (2023-25).

“We had a big chance to get to the final but unfortunately, we couldn't do it,” said Sri Lanka Test Captain Dhananjaya de Silva. “Even yesterday, when I talked to the boys, I reminded them where we could have been (at Lord’s this week), and where we ended up. As we start a new cycle, we know we have to win our home series. We need to pick up all those points. It’s a great opportunity to start a new cycle with a home series.”