Xtra Time Web Desk: Sri Lanka Cricket is in serious crisis as the series against India is dealt another blow. The start of the series has already been delayed by 5 days owing to COVID-19 cases in the home team. Now fresh reports are emerging from the island nation that batsman from Sri Lanka’s alternate squad, Sandun Weerakkodi has also tested positive for COVID-19. Sandun was with the group of Sri Lankan cricketers who were staying at the Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo. It is the same hotel where the Indian team is also staying. The Sri Lankan Cricket Board has acted swiftly by shifting the Sri Lankan cricketers from Taj Samudra to Cinamon Grand hotel
The news comes after two members of the first team which returned from England on July 6 tested positive. Sri Lanka’s batting coach Grant Flower, computer analyst GT Niroshan was infected with the more infectious Delta variant, forcing the entire squad to be quarantined.
Apart from Sandun Weerakkodi, Asela Guneratne, Angelo Perera, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa who were in the same group will also be quarantined will miss out on the India series. However, the groups of 24 cricketers who are in bio-bubble in Dambulla are not affected as per SLC officials.