First ODI Between Bangladesh And Sri Lanka To Go Ahead As Isuru Udana And Chaminda Vaas Test Negative For COVID-19 In Second RT-PCR Test

Former Sri Lankan ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne has announced an encouraging piece of news ahead of the first ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Sunday in Dhaka. Earlier, it came to light that Isuru Udana, Shiran Fernando, and bowling coach Chaminda Vaas tested positive for COVID-19, with the series in a shred of doubt. But as per the latest developments, Udana and Vaas have tested negative in their second RT-PCR Test, with the series set to go ahead as planned. The two sides will play three ODIs in Dhaka on the 23rd, 25th, and 28th of May.

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It has emerged that only Shiran Fernando’s test came out positive in both the reports, while Isuru Udana and Chaminda Vaas remain safe. A Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official proclaimed as per News Wire that the three-match series would go ahead. “Only Shiran has tested positive in the second test and the other two have been reported negative. Therefore the tour will go on. Shiran had contracted Covid in April,”

The Sri Lankan team will also hope that their issues with the board regarding the newly implemented contracts are resolved soon. The players have not signed the new agreement offered by the apex body of Sri Lanka cricket since the grading system based on which their salaries would be determined compromises transparency and is unfair. Nevertheless, the Island nation’s ODI skipper Kusal Perera asserts they are focused on the series at hand and hopes for the issues to be fixed.

Below is Sri Lanka’s Test captain’s tweet confirming the news:

Isuru udana & chaminda Vaas tested negative 2nd covid 19 PRC test…#SLvsBan

— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth) May 23, 2021