Sri Lankan cricketers arrive in Dhaka

Monday, 17 May 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka cricketer Isuru Udana is followed by other members of the team as they arrive at the Dhaka airport yesterday

The Sri Lanka cricket team led by Kusal Perera arrived in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka yesterday morning to play a three-match ODI series.

The 18-member squad and support staff went straight to the Pan Pacific Sonargao Hotel where they would stay in quarantine for the next three days. Upon two COVID-19 tests, the players will be allowed to train from Wednesday, according to the Bangladesh Daily Star.

The visitors will start training from 19 May at the BCB Academy ground in Mirpur. The Sri Lankan team will take part in a practice game on 21 May at the BKSP before facing Bangladesh in the first ODI on 23 May. The second and third games are scheduled for 25 and 28 May respectively, with all matches being held under lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Prior to their departure to Bangladesh the squad of 18 players plus the support staff and officials went into a bubble and trained at one place while being housed at Hotel Taj Samudra. They were there for seven days.

SLC Management Committee member Ashley de Silva said before the team departed for Bangladesh a PCR test was done on all the members of the touring party and all the tests were negative.

“In Bangladesh they will have to stay three days in the hotel room and after that they can carry out the training overall in the hotel. After seven days they can start training outside. They will do the PCR test after five days. Every 5-6 days all the people involved including the ground staff have to undergo a PCR test. It is a protocol which we also follow,” said De Silva.

Bangladesh selectors have already announced a 23-member preliminary squad for the series. The cricketers will resume training on 18 May.

Sri Lanka cricketer Dasun Shanaka boards the bus from the airport to the hotel