Karunaratne raring to go

Sri Lanka are one of the few cricket teams to have restarted their training sessions, which had been halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. With home series against England and South Africa cancelled due to the pandemic, Sri Lanka Cricket is desperate for its team to return to action. While India postponed their scheduled tour of the country, SLC is optimistic about Bangladesh's tour in July.

The island nation is among the very few countries in the sub-continent which has managed to ably fight the pandemic. While other cricketing nations are still trying to get their affairs in order, Sri Lanka successfully finished a 12-day residential training programme under head coach Mickey Arthur.

Thirteen players, mainly fast bowlers, stayed at a hotel with four-man coaching and support staff and players were not allowed to go outside hotel premises or the practice venue.

SLC ensured that everyone strictly followed health regulations and, according to Test and ODI skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, things have changed rapidly.

"The first few days was mind-boggling; sort of confusing put it mildly. Soon the tide turned and it was rapidly becoming a sort of new normal and you had to take it head on. Exactly what I did helped the process for me.

A change in life is a normal phenomenon. The challenges or adjustments are in reality what we took for granted in the past versus basic hygiene. Perhaps social distancing is tough and cumbersome, it's a team game after all and that entails loads of communication," Karunaratne told The Daily Star.

Although the new rules from the ICC will be a big challenge, the 32-year-old believes the game will change by about 30 per cent compared to before.

"For a start, the new rules will be a challenge. I am good with rational controls based on hygienic necessities as long as the bat versus ball challenge remains. Traveling and quarantining will require a huge mindset change and I am sure that team Sri Lanka will face it head on," he said.

However, the situation in Bangladesh is quite different compared to the scenario in Sri Lanka.

Here, coronavirus cases and casualties are increasing, making it difficult for the Bangladesh Cricket Board to think of resuming any sort of training programme at the moment.

Cricketers have been out of touch for over two months now, which means it will be extremely difficult for Bangladesh to prepare themselves in such a short time if the tour goes on as scheduled.

"Sounds tough and yes, these kinds of unplanned disruptions don't help but if you flip a coin, you would have to say national cricketers are generally as strong as rough riders. Therefore, clear up the rust and we have to move on," said an optimistic Karunaratne.

When asked about his take on the Tigers upcoming tour, Karunaratne added: "For me, any series is a good series. So, welcome Bangladesh."