In a bad news for the fans, the India – Sri Lanka bilateral series of 3 ODIs and 3 T20s is in danger of getting called off. Sri Lanka’s team analyst GT Niroshan has been found COVID positive with the delta variant. Earlier their batting coach Grant Flower had also been found COVID positive.
With two of the team members found affected by the virus, the entire Sri Lankan team could be forced to self isolate for 2 weeks. This only means two things. Either Sri Lankan cricket board will call off the series or they will play a second string squad vs India. However the chances of sending a string squad to face India looks more viable option. In a similar case England was forced to compete with a B team. They let out a second string team to face Pakistan. This happened after the main team had to be quarantined as positive cases were found within the team.
B Sri Lankan team to face India?
Earlier the main Sri Lankan squad was to come out of isolation on Friday. However after a couple of positive cases, the entire team will have to go for RT-PCR tests once more. In the meanwhile they will have to spend two more days in isolation. If in case there is no more positive cases, the Sri Lankan team will play against India. But if any more positive cases are found, a second string squad will face India in all likelihood.
One good news for the fans is that the Sri Lankan cricket board had prepared for this kind of situation. Two more sets of players are in quarantine in Colombo and Dambulla who would play the ODI and T20 series if the main team of hosts are out of the series. With just 3 days to go before the series starts, it will be interesting to see what does the hosts do.
The ODI series of 3 matches begins from 13 July. It will be followed by a T20 series of 3 games which will finish on 25 July. The Indian team is led by Shikhar Dhawan and Rahul Dravid is the stand in coach for India during the series.
