SL govt concession played integral role in SA tour going ahead

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Ken

A concession made by the Sri Lankan government which allows their team to quarantine for just three days upon their return to the island has played an integral part in their Test series against the Proteas over the festive season being able to go ahead.

When England left these shores blaming breaches of the bio-bubble for their own players’ unwillingness to play the ODI series and then promptly announced that their first Test in Sri Lanka would commence on January 14, there were grave concerns that Sri Lanka would pull the plug on the tour to South Africa. With the New Years Test at the Wanderers only scheduled to end on January 7, that would leave them less than a week to return home and quarantine before taking on the notoriously finicky English.

But The Citizen has learnt that the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports of Sri Lanka, Honourable Namal Rajapaksa, has granted the team permission, because they are going from one bubble into another, to only quarantine for three days, enabling them to honour their commitments to both South Africa and England.

Cricket South Africa director of cricket Graeme Smith said although he could not comment specifically on Sri Lanka’s return policy, “we have been instructed to test on certain days towards the end of the series for their return to Sri Lanka”.

Discussions with their sports ministry and an assessment conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket’s medical unit headed by Professor Arjuna de Silva, saw SLC gain approval for the tour, which starts with the Boxing Day Test at Centurion from December 26.

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur, who was last in his homeland as coach of Pakistan two years ago, will leave for South Africa ahead of the team, along with a health specialist, to further assess the situation and make all necessary arrangements for the team’s arrival.

Category Cricket, Sport
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Thought of the Day

John 15:4 – “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

For those who believe in Christ, their greatest desire should be to grow into the likeness of His image.

But once the emotional fervour has cooled, what about your daily life? Do you reveal his indwelling Spirit through the sincerity of your motives, your honesty, unselfishness and love? You may speak of Christ living in you, but is that reflected in your actions and do you allow Him to find expression through your life?

We need to draw from the strength Christ puts at our disposal – the indwelling Spirit that overcomes our human weaknesses and inadequacy.

And remember we bear fruit, we cannot produce it.

My Springbok squad for Europe tour

Aphelele Fassi, Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok, Jaden Hendrikse, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Jasper Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Elrigh Louw, Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Franco Mostert, RG Snyman, Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Wilco Louw, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Johan Grobbelaar.

Ken Borland