Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been ruled out of the rest of the T20 series against the hosts, Team Australia.
Hasaranga, the bowling all-rounder who tested positive in the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on Tuesday morning (15th February) before the 3rd T20 game, is following COVID guidelines and is under isolation.
Hasaranga was enjoying a successful series against Australia, as he was the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka and the series’ second highest wicket-taker. In this current series, Sri Lanka has lost two close matches.
The first T20 seemed to have been rewarded to the visitors as they restricted team Australia in the first innings at the score of 149 but were not able to achieve the easy target. Hasaranga was able to score 3 wickets in the first T20 which turned out to be a game-changer moment for some point of time.
The second T20 was incredibly interesting to watch as Sri Lanka matched the target of 164 runs, forcing the game into a Super Over, which the hosts eventually won. In the Super Over, Sri Lanka barely managed to score 5 runs, which the hosts chased down in the first three deliveries. For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga bowled the Super Over.
The visitors’ ability to keep this 5-match series alive will be hampered by the absence of one of their top all-rounders. With two games lost and one of their most experienced all-rounders out from the team, Sri Lanka must think differently before the third T20 on Tuesday (15th February).
Player Update #AUSvSL🚨:
Wanindu Hasaranga has tested positive for Covid-19.
The player was found to be positive during a routine Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted this morning (15th February).
Hasaranga is currently undergoing Covid-19 protocols and is placed in isolation.— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 15, 2022
