Sri Lanka’s opening batter, Pathum Nissanka, tested positive for COVID-19, which resulted in his being ruled out of the ongoing second Test against Australia in Galle. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that Nissanka tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday (July 11).
Nissanka tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday morning via an antigen test, and a PCR test later that day confirmed the same.
SLC said in a statement on Monday: “Pathum Nissanka has tested positive for Covid-19. He was found to be positive during an Antigen test conducted on the player yesterday morning, following the player complaining of feeling unwell.”
The statement added, “A PCR test carried out later in the day confirmed the result. Nissanaka was immediately isolated in a different hotel upon identification and will undergo Covid-19 Protocols. Oshada Fernando will join the playing XI as a Covid replacement.”
The Sri Lanka Cricket then announced that Oshada Fernando will replace Nissanka in Sri Lanka XI for the remainder of the Test match.
"A PCR test carried out later in the day confirmed the result. Nissanaka was immediately isolated in a different hotel upon identification and will undergo Covid-19 Protocols. Oshada Fernando will join the playing XI as a Covid replacement," the statement read.
For the second time in two matches, Oshada Fernando has been brought in as the Covid substitute after he replaced Angelo Mathews, the first player to test positive, during the opening game in Galle.
After Nissanka’s case, Sri Lanka has now lost five players to COVID-19 in the past few days, and they are all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, pacer Asitha Fernando, spin duo Jeffrey Vandersay and Praveen Jayawickrama.
Notably, Nissanka could score just 6 runs off 25 balls during Sri Lanka's first innings before losing his wicket to Mitchell Starc in the ongoing second and final Test against Australia in Galle.
