Sri Lankans face COVID scare lead up to Zimbabwe series

The national cricket team is facing a COVID scare prior to the three match ODI series against Zimbabwe that gets underway later this week. Following random testing that was conducted, top order batsman Avishka Fernando tested positive while uncapped Janith Liyanage’s PCR test also turned positive.

The Sri Lankan team will enter the bio-secure bubble today in Kandy before the series while Fernando and Liyanage have been withdrawn and replacements will be named for them. Fernando is one of Sri Lanka’s key players but his participation was anyway in doubt after he had failed the skin fold test.

Sri Lanka’s selectors had warned of dire consequences for anyone who did not meet minimum fitness standards.

Fernando was in good nick having made match winning knocks of 100 off 64 deliveries and 64 off 41 balls in his last two LPL games as Jaffna Stallions stormed to victory. Liyanage was drafted into the squad on his good performances in LPL.

Captain Dasun Shanaka also had tested positive on the 27th of December while leading paceman Dushmantha Chameera had a positive result two days later. There were several tests carried out on both players on Sunday and they are expected to enter the bubble in Kandy.

With the bans of Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka lifted, the trio’s return will strengthen Sri Lanka.

The three players were serving a year’s ban that was supposed to end in June this year, but Sri Lanka Cricket lifted the ban after six months having receiving positive feedback on their rehabilitation.

The three match series gets underway on Sunday (16th January) at Pallekele followed by the next two games on the 18th January and 21st January.

Former fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake has been named as the Head Coach for the series as SLC is in the process of finalizing a Head Coach for the next two years. Ruvin Peiris has been named as Batting Coach.