Report: SLC Considering Withdrawing From Sri Lanka's Tour Of South Africa Over Bio-Security Fears

Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) are considering withdrawing from their national sides’ upcoming tour of South Africa or offering Cricket South Africa to stage the two-match Test series at home in the wake of the growing fears about the viability of the bio-secure bubble in the rainbow nation.

SLC’s concerns about the tour’s safety have been sparked following the postponement of England’s ODI series against South Africa after the outbreak of covid cases in both the camps. England had alleged that the bio-secure system created by CSA was a real worry.

And, since England and Wales Cricket Board might object to Sri Lankan players being in the rainbow nations before the formers tour of Sri Lanka in January has caused real concerns for SLC.

The England tour of Sri Lanka, which has already suffered a postponement last March, when Covid first escalated, is vital to the SLC’s financial health following a poor 2020 that saw multiple series get postponed.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, Sri Lanka’s medical team is in touch with their South African counterparts in order to determine whether the bio-bubble set-up by CSA is sufficient.

Sri Lanka’s physician Dr. Daminda Attanayake has said that SLC’s medical staff is insisting on stricter protocols as compared to what Cricket South Africa had initially planned.

“I have to bring the [Sri Lankan] players back from South Africa without a single positive case,” Dr Attanayake said. “We’ve requested [South Africa’s] protocols be identical to the bio-bubble protocols we have been using for the LPL (Lanka Premier League). We’ve been successful with those. Players have tested positive but they’ve been isolated. We’re requesting these protocols be followed not just by our team, but theirs as well.”

Additionally, SLC’s medical staff is also slated to speak to ECB’s medical staff to take stock of CSA’s protocols and whether the measures taken by the latter were sufficient or not.

CSA’s acting CEO Kugandrie Govender confirmed that the boards were in touch over health arrangements.

“I’ve spoken to the SLC CEO today as planned. We are obviously providing them with information to give all their stakeholders, including their health authorities, the reassurances they need,” she said.

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