Two Sri Lankan players test positive for Covid-19 days before 2023 Asia Cup: Reports

With less than a week remaining before the 2023 Asia Cup kicks off, two Sri Lankan players have tested positive for the dreaded Covid-19.

SportsTak

• Fri • 25 Aug 2023

With less than a week remaining before the 2023 Asia Cup kicks off, two Sri Lankan players have tested positive for the dreaded Covid-19. Opening batter Avishka Fernando and wicket-keeper Kusal Perera have reportedly returned positive results for Covid-19. The Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) is yet to announce its squad for the upcoming continental competition but the two above-mentioned batters are likely to be a part of the team.

While the news about the two batters testing positive for the virus has not yet been officially confirmed by the SLC, the development comes as a major setback for the Islanders.

Fernando last played in an ODI game for Sri Lanka in January 2023 while Perera last played an ODI game for the Islanders in 2021.

Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin their Asia Cup campaign against Bangladesh on August 31 in Kandy while they will play their second and last group-stage fixture against Afghanistan on September 5 (Lahore).

Asia Cup 2023: Complete schedule

Aug 30 Pak vs Nep - Multan, Pakistan
Aug 31 Ban vs SL - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sept 2 Ind vs Pak - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sept 3 Ban vs AFG - Lahore, Pakistan
Sept 4 Ind vs Nep - Kandy, Sri Lanka
Sept 5 SL vs AFG - Lahore, Pakistan