Sri Lanka Cricket’s initiative to return to play will move into the second phase with another residential training camp for the national men’s team from the 22nd of June to 2nd of July in Kandy.
After successfully conducting a ‘Residential Training Camp’ for 13 players, (predominantly the bowlers) from the 1st to 12th June in Colombo, SLC have taken measures to add 11 more players, mostly batsmen, to the contingency, taking the overall tally to 24 players, to train as a group for 10 days.
India tour of Sri Lanka officially postponed
The training will be held in Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium, while the team will adhere to all health and safety procedures in place during their stay in a five-star hotel in Kandy. The players will not be allowed to leave the hotel or the practice venue to attend to personal matters during this period.
The training sessions will be overlooked once again by Head Coach Mickey Arthur, Batting Coach Grant Flower, Trainer Dilshan Fonseka, Physio Ajantha Wattegama along with two new attendees, Fielding Coach Manoj Abeywickrema and Masseur Rohan Priyadarshana.
Senior batsmen including Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal along with the likes of Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva and Thisara Perera have been selected to feature in the second training group while T20I captain Lasith Malinga is a notable absentee.
Sri Lanka last played international cricket in early March against West Indies at home before the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of the two-test England series mid-March, along with two inbound tours against South Africa and India in June and July.
England and West Indies will resume international cricket with a three-match Test series next month. However, details pertaining to Sri Lanka’s return to international cricket is still uncertain.
Photos : Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Returning to Training
According to sources, the domestic cricket season is set to resume mid-July after SLC gets the clearance from the Ministry of Health.
Sri Lanka training squad – Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera, Oshada Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Embuldeniya, Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep
