By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka’s cricket tour of Bangladesh, which stood in the balance after three members of the tour party tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Sunday’s first ODI at Dhaka, will eventually continue with the remaining two ODIs set to be played tomorrow and 28 May at the same venue.

Fast-bowling coach Chaminda Vaas, fast-bowling all-rounder Isuru Udana, and uncapped fast bowler Shiran Fernando were the three who tested positive, but a second PCR test performed on them yesterday saw Vaas and Udana return negative results while Fernando’s was positive. Fernando had contracted the virus previously in April so the chances are that it could still show in his body, sources said.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Secretary Mohan de Silva said that as the results have shown only one member to be positive, he would be separated from the rest of the tour party and that Sri Lanka would honour its remaining ODI fixtures.

SLC said that they were writing to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, expressing their concerns with regard to the rigidity of the bio-bubble they have set up for the series.

SLC is of the view that the hotel the players are staying at is not bio-secure with functions and parties still being held there.

When the Sri Lanka squad of 18 players and officials left for Bangladesh, all of them underwent PCR tests which returned negative. Even on arrival in Bangladesh, they returned the same negative results.

Cricket on TV

Meanwhile, SLC informs that the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ODI series, which commenced yesterday, would be shown live in Sri Lanka on Rupavahini’s Eye Channel and also on Dialog TV Channel 1 from 12.30 p.m. onwards.

Hasaranga’s 74 goes in vain as Bangladesh beat SL by 33 runs in first ODI