Picture Credit: Twitter/@BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have announced that the second T20I between the two countries, originally slated to be held on July 27, will be played later today. However, as many as 7 Indian cricketers will not be part of the match. As per initial reports, the seven players include the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, opener Devdutt Padikkal and off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham. This is because all the mentioned names are being considered close contacts of all-rounder Krunal Pandya who tested positive for Coronavirus on Tuesday.
In a positive, all those who are named close contacts have returned negative result for the infection on Tuesday. Meanwhile, it is being reported that there will be another test on Wednesday morning.
We are sure today’s match will go ahead: Sri Lanka Cricket
"Both teams will be retested in morning. Few of the Indian cricketers are in complete isolation and they will not play any further part in the series. We at SLC are all monitoring the situation. We are sure today’s match will go ahead," confirmed the SLC Source in a report carried by Inside Sport.
Also Read: Shikhar Dhawan to miss remaining T20I matches against Sri Lanka: Reports
Despite the close contacts so far testing negative for Coronavirus, all of them will not play a part in the remaining two fixtures of the T20I series. The final match of this bilateral arrangement is slated on July 29. However, if the close contacts have indeed been ruled out of the remaining matches, it remains to be seen what XI India decides to go ahead with in these matches.
Question mark on England bound Shaw and Suryakumar
It is further being learned that Krunal tested positive after the Rapid Antigen Test conducted prior to Tuesday's match. The player was immediately sent into isolation and an RT-PCR test had been called for.
Another big thing to worry about is that both Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav are also named as replacements to fly to England for the Test series commencing in August. However, if they are mandated to stay in isolation for a prolonged period or develop symptoms later, this could mean another selection headache for the senior side in the United Kingdom.