Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thushara tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of Australia tour

Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Australia for the upcoming five-match T20I series which is set to start from February 11. But the visitors have been dealt with a blow as their uncapped fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has tested positive for COVID-19. Along with him, the team’s trainer Dilshan Fonseka has also contracted the virus and both of them are currently in isolation away from the squad.

The team selected for the Australia tour is currently in a bio-secure bubble before flying out to Australia. Both Nuwan and Fonseka were found to be positive during the routine the RT-PCR test. Meanwhile, the 20-member squad is set to depart for Australia on February 3 and won’t have Thushara and Fonseka traveling with them for now.

Meanwhile, ESPNCricinfo has reported that Nuwan Thushara had returned a positive result six days ago itself. He will be tested again on the 7th day, Tuesday (February 1). But even if he returns a negative result, it is unlikely that he will travel with the team. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its medical team will make him undergo further tests before giving him clearance to play.

“We haven’t still decided on that [his inclusion in the travelling party]. Generally, under normal protocol, we do a cardiac and lung assessment [prior to clearing a player]. If we send him with the team, assuming his second PCR comes back negative, we will then have to assess him in Australia before he plays,” head of SLC’s medical department, Prof Arjuna de Silva said.

No player was in close contact

Also, De Silva has confirmed that no player from the rest of the squad was in close contact with Nuwan Thushara and is set to leave on February 3. As far as the uncapped fast bowler is concerned, he was picked in the side after his impressive show in the Lanka Premier League. He had scalped 12 wickets in eight encounters and his slingy action also makes him a unique bowler.

The other pace bowling options in the squad are Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando and Shiran Fernando. Sydney will host the first two T20 Internationals while the third T20I will be played in Canberra. The last two matches of the series will be hosted by the iconic MCG.