* Three England players test positive
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Sri Lanka cricket team returned to the island yesterday (6)[/caption]
England yesterday (6) named an inexperienced 18-man replacement squad for their ODI series with Pakistan after three players and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19. The team were due to begin the series with an ODI in Cardiff tomorrow, Thursday. But tests administered on Monday returned seven positive results and the rest of England’s party will be required to self isolate as a result. Tomorrow’s fixture is followed by games at Lord’s on 10 July and Edgbaston three days later. England then face three T20Is against Pakistan on 16, 18 and 20 July.
The new squad featuring nine uncapped players:
Ben Stokes (Captain), Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Phil Salt, John Simpson, and James Vince
* Australian F1 race and Moto GP round called off
The Australian Grand Prix was called off for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic yesterday. The Australian round of the MotoGP world championship, scheduled for 24 October, has also been cancelled. The Formula 1 event was due to take place from 19-21 November but has been abandoned because of tight border controls in Australia. Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman Paul Little said he was “deeply disappointed” in a statement.
* Olympic organisers tell public to stay away from marathon
Olympic organisers have asked the public not to line the route of marathon and race walk event at the Tokyo Games over fears that crowds could spread coronavirus infections. The two events take place in Sapporo, which still has emergency Covid measures in place. Organisers said, “to reduce the risk of infection” they would restrict “the movement of members of the public”. The Games, delayed a year because of the pandemic, start on 23 July. Meanwhile reports predicted yesterday that fans are likely to be banned from the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony too.
* Sri Lanka team plane diverted to Trivandrum
The plane carrying Sri Lanka cricket team from England yesterday diverted suddenly to Trivandrum, India to refuel. They returned to the country last afternoon and the players were reportedly sent directly to the Colombo-based bio-security bubble, in their preparation to the forthcoming India white-ball series starting on 13 June at Khettarama.