Highlights:
- Uncapped Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Thushara has tested positive for Covid-19.
- He was one of the top 3 wicket-takers in the Lanka Premier League.
- Dilshan Fonseka, the team trainer has also tested positive for Covid-19.
- Sri Lankan teams are scheduled to play five T20Is in Australia from February 11th to 20th-2022.
Australia vs Sri Lanka T20 Series-2022:
The Sri Lanka cricket team is scheduled to tour Australia in February-2022 to play five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. It has been scheduled to begin on February 11th-2022 and ends on February 20th-2022. In May-2021, Cricket Australia confirmed the fixtures for the tour and in January-2022, Cricket Australia updated the tour schedule.
Sri Lankan Pacer Nuwan Thushara test positive for Covid-19:
On January 31st-2022 (Monday), Uncapped Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the team’s departure for the Australia tour on next week. The five-match series between Sri Lanka and Australia will be played from February 11th to 20th-2022. The series will be staged across three venues, the Sydney Cricket Ground, Manuka Oval and Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Nuwan Thushara was a 27-year old and he was part of the 20-member Sri Lanka squad to tour Australia for a five-match T20I series. Apart from Thushara, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board informed that Dilshan Fonseka, the team trainer has also tested positive for Covid-19.
SLC also added, “Both of them are currently undergoing Covid-19 protocols and will rejoin the squad on February 10th-2022, upon completion of the protocols.”
The Sri Lankan team will leave for Australia on February 03rd-2022.
Nuwan Thushara- a top 3 wicket-takers in LPL:
Nuwan Thushara was one of the top three wicket-takers in the Lanka Premier League. He claimed 12 wickets across 8 matches with an economy rate of 8.11 for Galle Gladiators. His slingy bowling action brought comparisons with former pacer Lasith Malinga,
Nuwan Thushara – RT-PCR test report:
According to a report, “Thushara had returned a positive test for COVID-19 six days ago. His second RT-PCR test is scheduled for Tuesday, the seventh day from the initial test, but with the team set to fly out on February 3rd, SLC and its medical team will have to decide whether Thushara can travel with the rest of the squad or not”.
The report also had SLC’s medical department chief, Professor Arjuna de Silva, saying even if a negative test comes out on Tuesday, Thushara would need to undergo further tests before getting clearance to go to Australia with the rest of the squad.
Sri Lanka Team squad:
Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dusmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando.
