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In a major development, it is now being learned that matches of India's white-ball tour of Sri Lanka are set to be rescheduled after positive cases of COVID-19 emerged in the Sri Lankan setup. While the series was originally slated to commence on July 13, it is now likely to begin on July 17 or 18, with the local board wanting the players to serve an extended period of quarantine. Notably, while Sri Lanka's batting coach Grant Flower tested COVID-19 positive on Thursday, their team analyst GT Niroshan was found positive on Friday after their return from the England tour.
Furthermore, it is being learned that Sri Lanka Cricket is set to announce the revised schedule of the matches to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the broadcasters on Saturday.
Had things gone according to plan, the three ODIs were supposed to be played from July 13 to 18 with the T20Is from July 21 to 25- all of them at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Cricket open to the option of fielding a fresh side: Reports
Meanwhile, it is also being learned that Sri Lanka Cricket is keeping option open to field a fresh side much like England had to for the ODIs against Pakistan.
According to the earlier schedule, the three ODIs were to be played from July 13 to 18 followed by the three T20Is which were scheduled from July 21 to 25 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. A report carried by ESPNCricinfo further claims that both Niroshan and Flower have been infected with the Delta variant of the infection which happens to be extremely contagious. The report further claims that two other groups of cricketers are already in bio-bubbles- a contingent in Colombo, the other in Dambulla and could possibly receive a call up if the first team is not able to take the field.