Sri Lanka players have returned negative following Covid tests ahead of the start of the India and Sri Lanka series, which has been postponed and now will begin from July 18th.
Since the Sri Lanka cricketers have returned a negative Covid test, they will come out of the mandatory isolation on Sunday, a report said. According to the report, all the players, in their latest RT-PCR tests, tested negative for Covid-19. But while the players will come out of isolation, the coaches and other members of the staff will remain in isolation till Wednesday.
Sri Lanka Cricketers Tested Negative As Officials Haven’t Got Any Positive Report
The report adds that the Sri Lanka players may begin training sessions by Tuesday next week for the upcoming limited-overs series against India. The entire Sri Lankan first team, including senior players Kusal Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, and Dhananjaya de Silva, have all returned negative in their latest RT-PCR tests ahead of the limited-overs series against India.
The start of the India and Sri Lanka series was postponed with Sri Lanka batting coach Grant Flower and team analyst GT Niroshan testing positive for Covid 19. The series will now begin on July 18th, instead of its original start date of July 13th. Sri Lanka will likely be using the facilities at Khettarama stadium, while the India team will train at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), stated the report.
“Normally, the moment we get any positive result we announce. There has been another round of RT-PCR tests conducted yesterday and the results were supposed to come today. We only get the results if there is any positive cases,” a source in SLC told PTI.
“Since we haven’t got any positive report, which we normally receive by mid day, it can be presumed that all players have tested negative,” he added.
“If all goes well, the UK-returned players would be able to come out of their hard quarantine (room isolation) and enter the bio-bubble. The robust testing is expected to continue as per norms (every third or fifth day),” he informed.
Once the players get to enter the bio-bubble, they can at least meet each other in their rooms and also start using the gymnasium in a staggered manner. The outdoor training and skills session (net practice) is also expected to start in the next 48 hours.
Grant Flower And GT Niroshan Are At An Isolation Facility As Per Protocols: Source
The source, when asked about the health status of batting coach Grant Flower and analyst GT Niroshan, both of whom have tested positive on return from the UK, said that there hasn’t been any deterioration in their health or medical parameters. The official is confident that there won’t be any more hiccups (more Covid-19 cases) before the opening ODI on July 18.
“Grant and Niroshan are at an isolation facility as per protocols. Both are asymptomatic and doing fine as of now. There hasn’t been any deterioration of health as per our knowledge. They will complete their stipulated isolation period,” he said.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Saturday announced the revised itinerary of India’s upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. The three ODIs will now be played on July 18, 20, and 23 and the three T20Is will take place on July 25, 27, and 29.