AUS vs SL: Kusal Mendis tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of T20I series

Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis has tested positive for Covid-19 in Australia ahead of the upcoming five-match T20I series and he will be under isolation until returning negative tests. Mendis was identified positive with a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on Monday (February 7) and then confirmed by an RT-PCR test later in the day. The Sri Lankan side arrived on February 3 in Australia and the first T20I starts on Friday(February 11).

Mendis and Dhanushka Gunathilaka had returned to the Sri Lanka squad after the ban over them for one year was lifted by the Sri Lankan board recently. These two cricketers alongside Nirosh Dickwella had breached the bio bubble during the tour to England and they were banned from playing international cricket earlier.

Mendis, meanwhile, was recently part of the ODI series against Zimbabwe where he managed scores of 27, 7, 36 on his return to international cricket. He has been one of the highly rated batters from the Sri Lankan side and has been producing the excellent innings at times despite not being consistent enough.

The right-handed batter has played 47 Tests, 82 ODIs and 29 T20Is since making his debut in 2016, but is yet to make a big mark in the international arena.

Sri Lanka’s squad for Australia series

The five-match T20I series will be held in three venues of Syndey, Canberra and Melbourne. Dasun Shanaka remains the skipper of the side while the young side has been showing a lot of progression. Wanindu Hasaranga returned to the squad after being rested for the Zimbabwe series while there will be a lot of talents to watch out for as well.

Sri Lanka had an impressive run in the T20 World Cup 2021 and earned a lot of praises as well despite their head coach Mickey Arthur stepping down from the position.

Sri Lanka T20I squad for Australia tour: Dasun Shanaka (capt), 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, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando