COLOMBO: A COVID-19 outbreak in the Sri Lankan camp has forced the postponement of the upcoming limited-over series against India, according to media reports on Saturday.
“Batting coach Grant Flower and data analyst GT Niroshan tested positive for the new coronavirus soon after their return from England on Tuesday,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.
Three English player and four staff members tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, forcing them to field an entirely news squad for their home series against Pakistan.
Indian media reported that the first of Sri Lanka’s three one-dayers against India, originally scheduled for Tuesday, would now be played on July 17 instead.
The remaining ODIs would be played on July 19 and 21 and the subsequent three-match T20 series would begin on July 24. The SLC also postponed Lanka Premier League, which was to begin on July 30, to November-December citing cricket’s packed calendar.
The news of fresh positive tests came on the heels of three Sri Lankan players breaching the team bio-bubble in Durham during the England tour. The SLC suspended Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka for the breach.
