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Friday Nov 15, 2024
Wednesday, 5 January 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka’s national cricket selectors, who are due to meet today, will decide whether Sri Lanka’s white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka is fit enough to lead the side in the three ODIs against Zimbabwe after
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| Dasun Shanaka |
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| Kusal Perera |
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| Rumesh Ratnayake |
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| Wanindu Hasaranga |
testing positive for COVID-19. They will also pick the squad for the series.
Shanaka tested positive on 26 December and is in the process of recovering.
Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said: “Shanaka tested positive on 26 December for COVID-19. We will have to get the doctor’s advice whether he would be fit enough to play in the ODIs against Zimbabwe.”
The SLC’s Medical Unit has advised COVID-19-related victims to refrain from exerting their body for two weeks after recovering from the virus.
Meanwhile, Shanaka has tweeted: “I am pleased to let you all know that I am fully recovered from COVID-19 and will be fit to continue with day-to-day life in two days’ time and will start training. Thank you all for your kind messages and prayers. Please wear a mask, take care and stay safe.”
Apart from Shanaka, there are question marks hanging over the fitness of two other key white-ball players, opening bat and wicketkeeper Kusal Perera and bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. Perera has been struggling with a long-standing shoulder injury and he recently featured in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) for Colombo Stars, while Hasaranga suffered a hamstring injury while fielding during the LPL final between Jaffna Kings and Galle Gladiators.
“For the moment they have been treated and are currently undergoing rehab work. We will know by the time the selection is being done whether they would be fit enough to play. Tomorrow (Wednesday), or the day after, the selectors will get a report from the physio. They will take a call from there whether they are fit enough to be selected or not,” said de Silva.
With SLC and the Technical Advisory Committee still in the process of picking a successor to Head Coach Mickey Arthur, de Silva said that former Sri Lanka fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake has been appointed Interim Coach to oversee the three ODIs against Zimbabwe. Ratnayake has previously held a similar post in 2019-20 and was recently the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team for the series against Pakistan ‘A’.
Ruwin Peiris, who is attached to the High Performance Centre, has been appointed as Batting Coach of the Sri Lanka team for the series against Zimbabwe.
SLC is expected to announce the new head coach prior to the Sri Lanka team leaving for Australia to play a five-match T20I series next month.
De Silva also stated that the same procedures adopted for the LPL matches played in Colombo and Hambantota would apply to spectators wishing to witness the three ODIs against Zimbabwe at Pallekele on 16, 18 and 21 January.
“We are seeking Health Ministry approval to accommodate a 50% capacity of spectators for the matches. We issued tickets to the people who had been vaccinated twice, and we also put up boards that they need to wear the mask all the time for the LPL. The same procedures will apply for the Zimbabwe series as well,” said de Silva.
