Sri Lanka batter unlikely to be ruled out of the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa at home
“The protocol when someone tests positive is that we keep them isolated for ten to 14 days, and then we’ll do a cardiac assessment,” Dr Daminda Attanayake, the Sri Lanka team’s chief medical officer, told ESPNcricinfo. “If he comes back okay from the cardiac assessments and other tests, that I don’t see why we should keep him away from the South Africa series.”
The Sri Lanka squad is expected to enter a biosecure bubble around August 25 in preparation for the South Africa series. As Perera will already be in isolation, he will be allowed to enter the bubble once his isolation period is concluded.
Although the virus is not expected to keep Perera out of the series, Attanayake did suggest that it was not yet clear whether his shoulder injury had healed sufficiently for him to return to international cricket.
South Africa are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20s, all in Colombo. The first of those games is set for September 2 and the last for September 14.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf