Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara tests positive for COVID-19; to miss the West Indies tour

Sri Lanka’s tour of West Indies 2021 has been put into a little threat after the news which arrived from Colombo on Monday afternoon. Lahiru Kumara, the premier Sri Lanka fast-bowler had been tested positive with the COVID-19 virus. It was revealed that the tests were conducted on the white-ball players. 

The Sri Lankan team is scheduled to play in all three formats of the game when they travel to the West Indies. In a report, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that PCR tests which were conducted on the squad which will play the white-ball matches during the West Indies tour found Kumara positive with the COVID-19 virus. 

The tests were conducted on Sunday and found the fast-bowler to be positive with coronavirus. Since, finding out the results of the Tests, Kumara has been told to follow all the rules and regulations which have been laid out for the COVID-19 patients by the Sri Lanka government. 

No replacement for Lahiru Kumara announced yet

Sri Lanka Cricket has also given a clarification stating that the right-arm fast-bowler won’t be able to take part in the touring party’s squad when they take the flight for the Caribbean Islands. Sri Lanka Cricket will continue with normal operations, adhering to the stipulated Health Protocols.

There hasn’t been any replacement which has been announced to take the place of Lahiru Kumara. The Sri Lankan team is scheduled to leave for the tour on Tuesday morning, hence it can be expected that a replacement would be announced soon. 

The tour is set to begin with the three T20Is matches, followed by the three ODI matches. The Sri Lankan team will also play two Tests before they leave West Indies. All the matches will be played on the island of Antigua and Barbuda, a measure which has been taken to avoid logistic hazards. 

The two stadiums which have been chosen to host the matches are the Coolidge Cricket Ground and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound. The entire T20I series will be played at the Coolidge ground between March 3 and 7. The ODI series will be played in the North Sound between March 10 and 14. North Sound will also host three Tests, starting on March 21 and concluding on April 02.