SLC, BCCI anxiously await the COVID-19 reports of Sri Lanka players after cases erupted in England lot

The India tour of Sri Lanka is all set to commence on July 13 with the first ODI. The three-match ODI series will be followed as many T20Is. Though Indian players have already touched the island nation long back, it is not the case with the home team. Sri Lanka is coming from England after having a series with them and will have to quarantine after reaching their home.

After many COVID-19 cases erupted in the England squad, the Lankan team has come under the scanner. The two teams spent a lot of time together last week and this is why BCCI and SLC are waiting for the reports of Lanka players anxiously before they see the Indian squad. Currently, all the players and staff members are under quarantine and their COVID-19 results will be out on July 7.

“We arrived here [in Colombo] and we haven’t been allowed to enter our rooms without the result of a rapid antigen test, which luckily, I think most of our squad have got through. We’ve done another PCR where the results come out tomorrow (Wednesday). At the end of that ODI there was a fair amount of banter between the two teams – quite a lot of chat and quite a lot of talk – so it did bring about some anxious times,” said Lankan coach Mickey Arthur while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

Sri Lanka Cricket to increase testing frequency during the series

To make the tour smooth, it has been reported that Sri Lanka Cricket will also increase the testing frequency. Increasing the frequency will also help them rule out false-negative results. It has also been reported that after cases popped up in the English camp, the Indian team has also been alerted and has been asked to be extra cautious.

“The players will undergo an appropriate quarantine period allocated by the Ministry of Health and frequent PCR tests before they begin training (for the India series),” said one of the doctors from Sri Lanka.

The series between the two nations is all set to kick off on July 13.