Moeen Ali had tested COVID-19 positive upon arriving in Sri Lanka.
England touched down in Sri Lanka on Sunday (January 3) amid the stringent COVID-19 protocols to play a two-Test series starting January 14 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
With the Sri Lanka government suspending commercial flights arriving into the country from Britain, a British Airways charter flight carried the England players and support staff which landed at the Mattala Rajapaksa international airport in Hambantota, the south of the Indian Ocean Island.
A 23-man England’s playing group, comprising 16 squad members and seven reserves, plus coaching staff arrived in Sri Lanka with a number of stringent COVID-19 protocols in place for the tourists’ arrival.
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On their arrival, the entire England group tested negative for the COVID-19, barring all-rounder Moeen Ali on Tuesday morning. Ali has self-isolated himself for 10 days in Hambantota while his possible close contact Chris Woakes tested negative but will continue to isolate in his room as a precaution.
On Tuesday, January 5, Joe Root-led England squad underwent another round of COVID-19 testing, and all returned negative for the virus for the second time in Sri Lanka and they will be able to train for the first time on Wednesday (January 6) ahead of the Test series.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman confirmed the same by saying: “All PCR tests from yesterday are negative, except for Moeen Ali, and we can start controlled training this afternoon. We’ll have a third COVID test tomorrow.”
Noteworthy, both Tests will be played behind closed doors with the first Test scheduled to take place in Galle from January 14 followed by the second Test at the same venue from January 22.
(With Reuters Inputs)