The entire Sri Lankan first team, including experienced players Kusal Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, and Dhananjaya de Silva, have all tested negative for RT-PCR ahead of the limited-overs series against India.
Sri Lanka Cricket conducted the test.
The players are now likely to be permitted into the bio-bubble by Monday, after completing a week-long strict quarantine following their arrival from the United Kingdom.
After batting coach Grant Flower and data analyst G T Niroshan, as well as another player in a separate bio-bubble, tested positive for COVID-19, the series was pushed back five days from its initial start date of July 13.
“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 are any positive cases,” a source in SLC told PTI.
“Since we haven’t got any positive report, which we normally receive by midday, it can be presumed that all players have tested negative,” he added as per PTI.
In terms of its amended training schedule, it is understood that the Sri Lankan team will train at the Khettarama (R Premadas Stadium) while the Indians will practice at the Singhalese Sports Club ground (SSC). Once the players have entered the bio-bubble, they can interact in their rooms and start using the gymnasium in a staggered manner. In the next 48 hours, the outdoor training and skills session (net practice) is also expected to begin.
When asked about the health of batting coach Flower and analyst Niroshan, both of whom tested positive after returning from the UK, the source stated that their health and medical parameters have not deteriorated. Before the first ODI on July 18, the official is optimistic that there would be no additional difficulties.
