Covid hits Sri Lanka, three more players ruled out on eve of second Test

GALLE: Covid-19 outbreak took a toll on the Sri Lankan cricket team as three more players have tested positive, ruling them out of the second Test against Australia starting tomorrow.

All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, pacer Asitha Fernando and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay have tested positive for COVID-19 in a fresh round of testing carried out yesterday.

Earlier, left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama had been ruled out on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid.

Former skipper Angelo Mathews, on the other hand, has rejoined the squad after he was ruled out of the first Test against Australia as he tested positive ahead of the match.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have called in two more spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Lakshan Sandakan as replacements to bolster their chances of leveling the series, currently led by Australia 1-0.

It is worth mentioning here that the Pakistan team has also landed in Colombo for the forthcoming two-match Test series against the hosts, scheduled from July 16.

READ: Support staff tests Covid positive after Pakistan team arrives in Colombo