All national training to start from 1 June

By Shamseer Jaleel

All major sports will start their national trainings in Sri Lanka on or after 1 June. National cricketers will be in action starting from the fast bowlers and few spinners and the others are expected join later. 

Sri Lanka are expected to welcome both Indian and Bangladesh national cricket teams in the country during June and July respectively. Further in August/September Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is expected to host the Local Premier League (LPL) at four venues around the country.

India is expected for three one day internationals plus same number of T20 encounters to be played in the country. Meanwhile Bangladesh national cricketers are expected to be here for the ICC (International Cricket Council) conducted Test championship where they are expected to play three longer version of the games during their tour.

Sri Lankan rugby national selectors are expected to name the initial sevens squad in preparation for the Asia Rugby Sevens series three leg event in South Korea, China and Sri Lanka kicking off in August. Meanwhile the XV a side outfit is expected to take place in Colombo during September for the Asia Rugby Division 1 championship between Sri Lanka, Singapore, UAE and Philippines. 

The schools season is tipped to kick off after the Advanced Level examinations in mid-September giving them time to complete the unfinished league and to end with the knock out events in later part of November. 

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is also down to host the Under 19 Top 4 in Sri Lanka during the month of December with the venue yet to be finalised. Defending champions Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Taipei will lock horns in the round robin event. Winners of this event will book their berth for Junior World Rugby Tournament (JWRT) Division 1 to take place in Europe during 2021.

Meanwhile the Senior Division 1 winner during September in Sri Lanka will get their berth for Top three in Asia for 2021. Currently Hong Kong, South Korea and Malaysia occupy the three slots. 

Former Kingswood, Kandy SC and national fifteens and sevens star, Fazil Marija is expected to take over the sevens coaching while former Isipathana, CR & FC and current St. Peter’s and Havelock SC Head Coach Sanath Martis is a frontrunner for the XV a side coaching duties after the success following him in tandem at schools and club levels where ever he coaches. 

Meanwhile Viper (Jnr) Gunaratne is expected to keep his coaching duty under safety with the Under 19 Division 1 win in China last year. He is expected to continue along with the support of Rajeev Perera and Rohitha Rajapaksa.

Cricket, rugby and football national teams are expected to resume training from 1 June as per the new health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Sports together with the Ministry of Health. Sri Lanka cricketers are expected commence their training at SSC but surprisingly T20 skipper Lasith Malinga has not been called for this initial training. A few fast bowlers and spinners have been called in for this training.

All the details of the national pool members should be submitted to the Ministry of Sports as well as the Institute of Sports and Medicine. All sports in the country were suspended due to the outbreak of COVID-19 from mid-March.

The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Sports and Institute of Sports and Medicine are as follows: Athletes allowed to go out of the training camp, if highly necessary, should get permission from the Director General, Minister of Sports or officials from Institute of Sports and Medicine.

Strictly follow quarantine law in Sri Lanka primarily governed under Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No. 03 of 1897 (QPDO). The ordinance was introduced (inter-alia) to prevent the introduction of plague and all contagious or infection diseases to Sri Lanka and the spread of such diseases in and outside Sri Lanka. Outsiders, parents or friends strictly not allowed inside premises of the training camp.

During the training camp, accommodation and medical items given by the authorities and no outside stuff allowed.

Apart from quarantine law, all athletes should follow the general rules set by the Ministry of Sports and respective national associations in the past.

Coaches and other officials of the national pool also need to follow the guidelines.