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Picture Credit: SLC

In big news coming in ahead of India's limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, the host team's batting coach Grant Flower has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 days before the start of the ODI series on July 13. It should be noted that Flower arrived with the Sri Lankan cricketers few days ago from England and is currently undergoing quarantine at the Sri Lankan team hotel.

Furthermore, it is being learned that the entire Sri Lankan squad and coaches arrived from London are currently in isolation and have been mandated to not leave their rooms until they are told otherwise. An early statement from Sri Lanka Cricket, however, says that the series will go ahead as planned.

Sri Lanka team mingled with England cricketers who later tested COVID positive

"We arrived here [in Colombo] and we haven’t been allowed to enter our rooms without the result of a rapid antigen test, which luckily, I think most of our squad have got through. At the end of that ODI there was a fair amount of banter between the two teams – quite a lot of chat and quite a lot of talk – so it did bring about some anxious times," Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Notably, the Sri Lanka players were involved in a series with England post which three England players and four of their support staff members tested positive for Coronavirus. Consequently, it was expected that a few members from the Sri Lankan contingent would test positive for the infection.

However, England were forced to change their entire squad for the ongoing Pakistan series due to the Coronavirus outburst and it remains to be seen whether Sri Lanka are forced to take such a step in view of the recent development.