Table of Contents

Sri Lankan team’s problems are getting from bad to worse. The authorities have reportedly shifted their national players from Hotel Taj to Cinnamon due to the COVID-19 scare after 2 important staff tested positive. Indian players, meanwhile, will continue to stay at the Taj as their bio-bubble is yet to be breached.

The upcoming limited-overs series between India and Sri Lanka has been rescheduled after the hosts’ batting coach Grant Flower and a member of the backroom staff tested positive for COVD-19. The first ODI was supposed to be played on the 13th of July, but it will now likely take place on the 17th or 18th of July.

Sri Lankan Team Players Shifted From Hotel Taj For Covid-19 Scare

But player selection remains a significant headache for the decision-making authority. With the Sri Lankan contingent’s second PCR test due tomorrow, the availability of players will depend on the results of the tests.

The Sri Lankan cricket board, however, is ready with a backup plan if there are further positive cases found inside the Sri Lankan contingent in Colombo. If the need arises, the board will select players from a group of 24 cricketers who are currently camped in Dambulla.

Shikhar Dhawan Image Source : AP — Shikhar Dhawan Image Source: AP

A Covid outbreak in the Lankan camp has forced the postponement of the upcoming India-Sri Lanka limited-overs series. Instead of July 13, the ODI series is now likely to commence on July 17 or 18th while the final T20I is likely on July 27 after the rescheduling.

The push-back has come in the wake of two Sri Lanka team support staff contracting the virus. India, led by Shikhar Dhawan, is scheduled to play three ODIs followed by as many T20Is and the first match was originally scheduled on Tuesday, 13th July.

Sri Lanka’s national cricket selectors named a 25-member squad in preparation for the limited-overs series against India. The selectors have also named all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as the new captain for the series with Dhananajaya de Silva as the vice-captain. The squad has to be approved by the Sports Minister.

Sri Lanka’s Batting Coach Grant Flower Reluctant To Take Sputnik Vaccine

Former Zimbabwe batsman and Sri Lanka’s batting coach Grant Flower is currently battling with COVID-19. The 50-year-old refused to take the Sputnik vaccine that was being offered by the authorities. Grant Flower insisted on taking the Pfizer vaccine. Medical experts are still trying to convince him to take whichever vaccine is available.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) secretary Mohan de Silva revealed that Grant Flower is reluctant to take Sputnik and other vaccines because he fears he won’t be able to travel to Zimbabwe if he isn’t administered a recommended vaccine like the Pfizer. On Friday, the team’s data analyst GT Niroshan tested positive and was moved to intermediate care units alongside Grant Flower.

Sri Lanka is coming into the series on the back of morale deflating losses against England, where they were no match for Eoin Morgan and his men across the T20I and ODI series. With player availability becoming an issue, it remains to be seen whether Lanka can overcome their problems and challenge India in the upcoming limited-overs series.

The news of fresh positive tests came on the heels of three Lankan players breaching the team bio-bubble in Durham during the England tour. The SLC suspended batsmen Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, and Danushka Gunathilaka for the breach.