The upcoming Sri Lanka-England Series will be going ahead as of now, despite the emergence of new COVID-19 Strain in the UK.
In the UK, large parts of south-east England, including London, are now under a new, stricter level of restrictions in a bid to curb the rapidly spreading virus. Along with the UK, the same mutation of the Covid-19 virus has also been detected in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia. Britain’s health minister warned Sunday that a strict lockdown imposed on London and southeast England may last for months because a new strain of the coronavirus was “out of control”. Around 16.4 million people entered the strictest “tier four” measures from Sunday, or 31% of England’s population.
Joe Root led touring party, including seven travelling reserves, departs for Sri Lanka on January 2 and will play two Test matches behind closed doors at Galle International Cricket Stadium, starting on January 14 and January 22.
“As of now, the series will go ahead. However, after new developments, both the cricket board will be taking extra precautions. Accordingly, the English team will be isolated for 10 days at least prior to boarding” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
After the arrival, the English team will be kept in isolation for next one week.
“The England team won’t come in to the contact of Sri Lankans until 10th after arriving on the January 3. However, they can start practicing after 3 days in bio secure bubble” the top SLC official added.
Recently, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) became the first cricket board in subcontinent to successfully create robust Bio Secure bubble. The same will be continuing for the England series.
“Heavy security and health guide lines for the England tour will be implemented during the series. We can assure that there won’t be any vaccum left in the security and government Health guide lines. The army will be taking over the full control, with no spectators and media persons allowed inside the ground” the top official added further.
