Shiran Fernando, a Sri Lankan pace bowler has tested negative for COVID-19 in the third round of RT-PCR test he had undergone on Wednesday (May 26), according to a Bangladesh Cricket Board official.

Ahead of the first one-day international between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, three members of the Sri Lankan squad tested positive though later Chaminda Vaas and Isuru Udana were declared negative after the second round of tests, while Shiran Fernando still returned a positive result.

Shiran Fernando Didn’t Practice

Bangladesh won both the first 2 ODIs and hence, the third one slated to be held on 28th May is a dead rubber. Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim was the star performer in both the ODIs, scoring 84 in the 1st and then 125 in the 2nd ODI. Bangladesh won by 33 runs in the 1st ODI and by 103 runs in the 2nd one decided by Duckworth-Lewis.

The right-arm pace bowler Shiran Fernando did not attend the practice session on Wednesday afternoon at Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Academy premises.

“Shiran Fernando tested Corona negative (in the last test),” Bangladesh’s team official Rabeed Imam confirmed to Cricbuzz on Wednesday.

However, Shiran Fernando didn’t take part in his team’s practice session on Wednesday afternoon at the BCB academy premises as the tourists started their preparation with the focus on avoiding a Bangladesh clean sweep after conceding their maiden ODI series with back to back losses in the opening two games of the ongoing series.

Mushfiqur Rahim hit his eighth ODI century as Bangladesh secured its first ODI series victory over Sri Lanka with a 103-run win by the DLS method in the rain-interrupted second match. In an innings twice halted by rain, the wicket-keeper batsman scored 125 off 127 balls with 10 fours as Bangladesh was bowled out for 246 in 48.1 overs. It was Bangladesh’s first series victory against Sri Lanka across three formats.

Sri Lanka was 126-9 after 38 overs when rain interrupted the game for the third time. Sri Lanka was set a revised target of 245 in 40 overs, meaning it needed 119 runs from the final two overs. The visitors ended on 141-9. Bangladesh won by 33 runs on Sunday in the first of their three-match series. The final match is on Friday.

Mohammad Saifuddin Recovering First From Head Injury And Naim Sheikh Added To Bangladesh Squad For 3rd Dead Rubbber ODI

Meanwhile, BCB officials insisted that Mohammad Saifuddin is recovering fast from the head injury and they are expecting him to be available for the dead rubber Game 3. Mohammad Saifuddin is currently undergoing a 24-hour observation period after being hit on his helmet during the second ODI on Tuesday. He was replaced by pacer Taskin Ahmed after he had shown signs of concussion.

Mohammad Saifuddin celebrates a wicket Getty Images

After the incident, he was taken to a city hospital straightway for a routine checkup but no major problem was found in his reports. Bangladesh has also added Naim Sheikh to their squad for the final ODI, to be played on Friday.

Bangladesh has attained the pole position in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League points table with a historic win against Sri Lanka. The Tamim Iqbal-led outfit took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh now has 50 points in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. Sri Lanka continues to be in the last position with -2 points in five outings.

Bangladesh recorded their fifth consecutive win at home in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. After blanking West Indies 3-0, Bangladesh has now won two back-to-back matches against Sri Lanka to record a maiden series win over the Islanders.

2nd ODI:- Bangladesh 246 (Rahim 125, Mahmudullah 41, Chameera 3-44) beat Sri Lanka 141-9 (Rahman 3-16, Miraz 3-28) by 103 runs(DLS)

1st ODI:- Bangladesh 257 for 6 (Mushfiqur 84, Mahmudullah 54, Tamim 52, Dhananjaya 3-45) beat Sri Lanka 224 all out (Hasaranga 74, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-30) by 33 runs