Covid-19: Sri Lanka batting coach tests positive ahead of India series

Sri Lankan batting coach Grant Flower has been reported Covid-19 positive.
Sri Lankan batting coach Grant Flower has been reported Covid-19 positive.

The Covid-19 virus has struck the Sri Lankan cricket team ahead of the limited overs home series against India. Team’s batting coach Grant Flower has tested positive for the Wuhan virus.

Sri Lanka last week was playing against the England team in which seven members, including three players, were reported Covid positive.

Flower is now undergoing due medical protocols.

The other members of the team have also been tested for the Covid infection this evening.

The RT-PCR tests were conducted shortly after Flower was found to be carrying the virus. The Sri Lankan squad had returned from their tour of England only two days back.

Flower has been isolated from the rest of the squad which is undergoing hard quarantine on arrival.

“Batting coach of the Sri Lanka National Team Grant Flower has tested positive for COVID-19,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.

“He was found to be positive during a PCR test carried out on him today when Flower showed mild symptoms of the disease.

“Immediately upon identification, Flower was isolated from the rest of the team members (players and coaches) who are undergoing quarantine following their return from England,” it further stated.

The former Zimbabwe batting great and was with the team in England where it lost both the T20 International and ODI series.

Already, three Sri Lankan players are facing an inquiry for breaching the COVID-19 protocols in UK during the tour.

The Islanders are scheduled to play the limited overs home series against India from next week.

Led by Shikhar Dhawan, India will be playing three One Day International and as many T20 Internationals on the tour of Sri Lanka. The first match is scheduled for July 13.