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Sri Lanka cricketers during a training session
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
With the PCR tests carried out on the 35 cricketers in the Sri Lanka squad along with the coaching staff, net bowlers and the HPC staff returning negative COVID-19 results, Sri Lanka’s cricket tour of the West Indies is once again back on track to go ahead.
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| Lahiru Thirimanne |
The tour was thrown into jeopardy when two members of the training camp – batsman Lahiru Thirimanne and head coach Mickey Arthur were tested positive and the training for the tour came to an abrupt halt last week.
But following the negative results returned on the rest of the training squad the players returned to training yesterday after first undergoing a fitness test to ascertain their fitness levels.
“The players underwent a fitness test yesterday and again today. They started training yesterday. We have not got the results of the fitness test yet. The reports will be submitted to us by today,” said Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva.
“We were waiting for the PCR tests to come out so now all of them have been tested negative. We are seeking the views of the cricket committee and hopefully we might get a feedback today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday). When we spoke to them verbally, they sounded positive for us to go ahead with the tour after pushing it back by about a week,” he said.
De Silva said that the itinerary will remain the same without any reduction in the number of matches.
“There will not be any changes to the number of matches but the only change will be in the order of matches. Earlier it was 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is and the 2 Tests but we have shown our preference to play the 3T20Is first and then the 3ODIs and the 2 Tests. We are waiting for a confirmation from Cricket West Indies,” said De Silva.
“We were supposed to go to the West Indies on 18 February, but we have requested Cricket West Indies to push the itinerary back by about 4-5 days so that there will be enough time and when the team goes there, they will have some time to carry out their training. We haven’t finalised the itinerary as yet,” he said.
According to De Silva, head coach Mickey Arthur will go with the team, but Thirimanne’s selection will be based on medical advice.
“Arthur is only a trainer so there is no issue with him, he would be released in another four days’ time. Thirimanne has to train and practice physically so we have to get the doctor’s advice on him whether he will be fit enough to undergo strenuous physical activity,” said De Silva.
