SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa and Sri Lankan Cricket authorities have announced that a select group of cricketers will resume training from Monday in a bid to restart the game.
Most events of the professional cricket have been suspended since March amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement 13 players will check into a hotel for a 12-day residential camp at the Colombo Cricket Club.
The statement added players taking part in the camp represent a general squad chosen from across all formats, and primarily consist of bowlers, as they need more time for conditioning before going into an active competition.
A coaching and support staff will supervise the training, during which players will not be permitted outside the hotel premises and the practice venue. The SLC would make sure everyone at the training camp remain to the government health regulations, it added. Sri Lanka is preparing to host India for a limited-overs series in July.
However, India’s cricket board has said it will wait for more clarity regarding curbs on international travel before making a decision on the tour.
Earlier, South Africa also permitted training and playing of professional non-contact sport, a decision welcomed by its cricket board on Saturday.
Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) acting chief executive, Jacques Faul said in a statement “This is a big boost for the operational side of our cricket.”
CSA’s coronavirus steering committee will meet on Monday to draw up a protocol for the return to training and playing, Jacques said.
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