By Bipin Dani

Sri Lankan batsman Oshada Fernando is well on his recovery path, according to team manager and selector on tour Ashantha de Mel. 

Speaking from Pretoria, he said, "Oshada has begun walking around the ground though the physio has not put him on run yet." 

The 28-year-old right-hand batsman injured his ankle in the Dambulla Viiking’s match against Kandy Tuskers in the recent Lanka Premier League (LPL). 

Before coming to South Africa, he was looked after by Paul Khoury (Sports Science & Medicine Manager - High Performance Centre of Sri Lanka Cricket). 

"Oshada’s ankle mobility is considerably increased and is well looked after by our physio (Ajantha Wattegama), who is also helping him to strengthen the muscles in a gym here," de Mel added. 

"We are hoping he’ll be able to bat within two to three days though he is to miss the first Test. He is likely to be available for the second Test but we are not sure now whether he would be selected to play.”

In other good news, the results of the second PCR test given by all players and support staff members were found to be negative for Covid-19.