Hours before third T20I match against Australia on Tuesday (February 15), Wanindu Hasaranga tested positive for Covid-19. He was found positive during a routine Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on the match day while he is currently placed in isolation.
With Sri Lanka down 0-2 in the series, Kusal Mendis is expected to be available for selection for the Manuka Oval match after serving his seven-day isolation period, which started when he tested positive to RAT and PCR tests on February 7. Jeffrey Vandersay will be another option for Sri Lanka as Hasaranga's replacement.
"Wanindu Hasaranga has tested positive for Covid-19. The player was found to be positive during a routine Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted this morning (15th February). Hasaranga is currently undergoing Covid-19 protocols and is placed in isolation," SLC tweeted.
Fernando remains in isolation after he was found Covid positive on Saturday, the morning after the series opener in Sydney.
There are no indications yet that the virus has spread further – all players are submitting to daily tests – but the latest case is nonetheless a concern.
Sri Lanka also recorded two cases before leaving for Australia; Nuwan Thushara, the slinging paceman likened to Lasith Malinga who made his international debut on Sunday, and team trainer Dilshan Fonseka.
The crafty Hasaranga is the world's top-ranked international T20 bowler and has been Sri Lanka's leading wicket-taker in the series so far, snaring five victims at 14.20 with an economy rate of 8.87.
Hasaranga was the pick of Sri Lanka bowlers with 3/38 in the series opener where Australia won the match by 20 runs (DLS method). Batting first, the hosts posted 149/9 with opener Ben McDermott making 53 off 41 before Marcus Stoinis providing the late flourish with 30 off 17. However, Sri Lanka managed 122/8 in 19 overs and were way below the DLS par score. The second contest though turned out to be a thrilling affair where Australia had the last laugh in the Super Over.
In the recently concluded Indian Premier League's (IPL) mega auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) spent big bucks to rope in Hasaranga for Rs 10.75 crore.
Sri Lanka's updated T20 squad: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamil Mishara, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando.
