SLC ‘easing up’ on BCB’s terms
Sri Lanka Cricket [SLC] is going through a busy time to set a revised tour plan to host Bangladesh for the three-Test series under the ICC Test Championship.
After Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan called the SLC's health protocols 'historically unique', SLC got involved in a series of meetings with concerned authorities in the government.
An SLC team led by president Shammi Silva met with the country's head of national operation centre for prevention of Covid-19 outbreak (NOCPCO) Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, chief of defence staff and commander of the army at the army HQ on Tuesday.
One of the SLC members, during the meeting, listed a copy of the blueprint protocol that has now been laid in connection with the Bangladesh tour beginning on September 27.
Even though SLC is expected to go through further discussions with health authorities, it has already laid plans that would meet most of BCB's terms. According to sources, SLC is considering to move away from their stance of mandatory 14-day quarantine period towards a week-long isolation period for Bangladesh.
According to the new plan, the visitors are expected to have a new bio-secure bubble that would allow Bangladeshi cricketers to practise within the first week of their arrival, but confirming isolation. After the first week, the visitors would be allowed to get into full-fledged training which includes a two-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka A.
Meanwhile, SLC is also considering a request to add more members to the contingent travelling to the island. The Tigers are likely to be allowed to have between 35 and 41 members even though SLC had initially instructed to keep the number within thirty including support staff.
The hosts are planning to arrange the camp for Bangladesh in Hambantota, but the BCB, according to sources, is willing to have the conditioning camp in Galle or Dambula as the distance from hotel to the field in Hambantota is almost 45 kilometres.
Kandy is expected to host the first two Tests while the third Test is likely to be played in Colombo.
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