Concerned Arthur cuts down day offs

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka’s cricketers taking part in next month’s ICC T20 World Cup had been given a ten day break after the bilateral series against South Africa but that has been cut down and the players and coaching staff had been reported to enter a bio-bubble tomorrow (Tuesday), The Island learns.

The break has been reduced to six days as Head Coach Mickey Arthur is concerned about the COVID situation. Former captain Kusal Perera, Batting Coach Grant Flower and Arthur himself had tested positive for COVID since the outbreak of the pandemic and ahead of the World Cup, the Head Coach is keen to keep all the players and support staff safe.

Sri Lanka’s training during their bubble will be focusing on match simulations along with scenario training. For example, can they defend ten runs in the last over and who will bowl that over under pressure keeping the nerve. Or can they score 60 runs in the six overs of Power Play?

The bubble will be formed on Tuesday and after three days of quarantine, players will begin group training on Friday and full squad training from Sunday.

Sri Lanka leave for Oman on the 3rd October and will play two T20 Internationals. Then they come to Abu Dhabi where they will train ahead of the qualifying round of T20 World Cup.

Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Namibia are in Group ‘A’ of qualifying tournament. The top two teams will qualify for the World Cup along with two qualifiers from Group ‘B’ that comprises Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Oman and Scotland.

Sri Lanka meanwhile will carry five additional players for the World Cup. Accordingly, Lakshan Sandakan, Minod Bhanuka, Ashen Bandara, Ramesh Mendis and Pathum Nissanka have been drafted in as reserves.

Sri Lanka’s form ahead of the World Cup qualifiers is a concern as they suffered a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Proteas last week. The hosts lost the second and third T20 International by nine and ten wickets respectively. Sri Lanka had gone down by ten wickets in a T20 International only on one other occasion.