Sri Lanka will host the inaugural Test Twenty tournament, a new cricket format, at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from 14 to 29 November, organisers said in a statement on Friday.
The event will bring together 160 players aged 13 to 21 in four continental teams of 40, each made up of 20 girls and 20 boys. Girls’ and boys’ XIs contribute to one combined team score.
Each match is 80 overs. The first 40 are played in white clothing with a red ball in daylight, and the remaining 40 in coloured clothing with a white ball under floodlights. A toss decides who bats first and whether the girls’ or boys’ match is played first.
Organisers said thousands of young players from five continents took part in selection trials over 300 days. The final 160 are expected to be named in a draft later this month.
Test Twenty founder Gaurav Bahirvani said Sri Lanka was chosen for its school cricket culture. “No country on earth loves its young cricketers the way this island does,” he said.
The opening ceremony is on 14 November and the final on 29 November, with 30 November held as a reserve day. Matches will be shown live on Sony Sports Network.
