IND V SL: Good Decision From BCCI To Allow 50 Percent Crowd, Says Dimuth Karunaratne

Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decision to have crowds in for the first Test between Sri Lanka and India at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali on March 4. BCCI have allowed 50% crowd in for the match, which will also be India’s Virat Kohli’s 100^th Test match.

Earlier, the BCCI had not allowed any crowd in for the milestone Test match for not only Virat Kohli, but also for Rohit Sharma, who will captain India in Tests for the very first time. This was due to government regulations in Punjab. However, after criticism on social media, the board consulted with the government and decided to give the go-ahead to the Punjab Cricket Association to host the 1st Test between India and Sri Lanka with a 50 percent capacity at PCA Stadium.

Dimuth Karunaratne welcomed the decision as it will also be Sri Lanka’s 300^th Test match and lauded BCCI for allowing fans in the Mohali stadium.

“That’s a great feeling…captaining in the country’s 300th Test. I did not expect it. It is a great honour for me. I will try my best to give the best result for Sri Lanka. I came to know it is Virat’s 100th Test. A good decision from the BCCI to allow 50 per cent crowd,” Karunaratne said in the virtual media interaction.

Dimuth Karunaratne Reveals Sri Lanka’s Playing Combination For The First Test

Karunaratne was asked about Sri Lanka’s playing combinations and availability of players for the first Test against India in Mohali and the Sri Lankan captain revealed that some players have injuries and will miss out on the momentous Test match.

He said that Kusal Mendis will miss the match due to his hamstring injury, while Niroshan Dickwella will keep wickets for the side in the Test match. Both Dickwella and Mendis were banned for a year for breaching bio-bubble protocols during Sri Lanka’s tour of England last year.

“Dickwella will be the wicketkeeper, (pacer) Dushmantha Chameera will be rested and will be available for the pink ball Test and Mendis has been ruled out. Sri Lankan players have been training hard and everybody is in good shape. Hopefully they will produce good form in the two Tests,” he said on the eve of the first Test.

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