Sri Lanka Youth cricket encounter called off due to Covid 19 scare

Sri Lanka U19s to meet Pakistan U19s in the semi-final 

by Reemus Fernando

The Group-deciding match between Sri Lanka Under 19 and Bangladesh Under 19 in the ongoing Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Asia Cup was called off in the 33rd over after two match officials were found positive for Covid 19, sources in Sharjah told The Island yesterday.

Put to bat, Bangladesh Under 19s were 130 for four wickets when the match was called off. “Two match officials were found positive for Covid 19. The results of the tests were known during the match and the organizers took action immediately to stop the match. One positive result was of an on-field umpire,” Sri Lanka Under 19 team sources told The Island.

Sri Lanka Under 19s too had under gone Covid 19 tests on the eve of the match but all of them have returned negative results. Team sources said that they were scheduled to undergo another Covid 19 test this morning.

Both Sri Lanka Under 19s and Bangladesh Under 19s have remained unbeaten during the tournament and the winner of yesterday’s match was to top the group. However, with the match now ending in a no result, Bangladesh have topped the group.

“Sri Lanka Under 19 will now meet Pakistan Under 19s in the semi-final, while the other semi-final will be between India and Bangladesh.”

Spinners Treeen Mathew and Dunith Wellalage took two wickets for Sri Lanka Under 19s at yesterday’s match.

Scores:

Bangladesh U19s

130 for 4 in 32.4 overs (Prantik Nawrose Nabil    45, Aich Mollah 24, Ariful Islam 19n.o., Md Fahim 27n.o.; Treveen Mathew 2/18, Dunith Wellalage 2/17)