Sri Lankan cricketers return negative results on PCR test

By Bipin Dani

The Sri Lankan cricketers who were asked to take PCR tests yesterday have all returned negative results, sources confirmed today. 

This will come as welcome news to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI), with bilateral series set to take place later this month in the Caribbean. 

The SLC medical committee has given consent for the Windies tour and now the final decision will be taken by the SLC management in consultation with the CWI officials.

Earlier this month it was reported that the tour would not take place, after head coach Mickey Arthur and Lahiru Thirimanne tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire training squad was asked to self-isolate after a majority of them attended a cricketer’s wedding where Thirimanne was also present. 

It is now likely that the tour will have a delayed start, as Daily Mirror reported on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, SLC will send a new physio on the tour of West Indies.

According to sources Dumesh Aravinda will replace Ajantha Wattegama on this tour. 

"As planned, the two physiotherapists are rotating and it is likely that Aravinda will travel to the West Indies. Ajantha will work with the players at the High Performance Centre," a source revealed to the Daily Mirror.

"Aravinda holds a master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science and worked closely with the outgoing physio Paul Khoury, supporting the rehabilitation of the national players before being promoted to one of the National Team physiotherapists in August 2020," the source further added.