Sri Lanka Cricket to start a special training program for 13 players from 1st June

A small group of Sri Lankan cricketers, majority of bowlers will begin their training on Monday as the country aims to restart cricket after the coronavirus lockdown is completely lifted. The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) revealed this piece of information.

No professional cricket has been played in Sri Lanka since the beginning of March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Because of this, the home series of the Sri Lankan team against South Africa and England have been cancelled.

According to the statement released by the SLC, 13 players will check into a hotel for a 12-day residential camp. The camp will be held at the Colombo Cricket Club.

“The players taking part in the camp represent a general squad chosen from across all formats, and primarily consist of bowlers, as they need more time for conditioning before going into the active competition,” the statement by SLC read.

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Only a small group of four coaching staff will oversee the training. As per the reports, the players won’t be allowed outside the hotel premises and the venue of practice during the time of the training. The statement also said that the SLC will keep in mind all the regulation related to the health safety which has been laid down by the government,

Sri Lankan Board is trying to get everything under place for a limited-overs series against India in the month of July. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t confirmed anything yet as international travel hasn’t been approved from the Indian Government as of now.

On Saturday, South Africa also allowed training and playing of professional non-contact sport, a decision welcomed by its cricket board. “This is a big boost for the operational side of our cricket,” Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) acting chief executive, Jacques Faul, said in a statement. CSA’s COVID-19 steering committee will meet on Monday to draw up a protocol for the return to training and playing, he added.