Reports: Kusal Perera tests positive for COVID-19; might miss home series against South Africa

Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera has been tested positive for COVID-19. This has put the chances of him playing in the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa in doubt. Before the India series at home, Kusal Perera led Sri Lanka on England tour where they couldn't register even a single win.

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Due to a sprain in his shoulder, the left-hander missed three ODIs and as many T20Is against India. Dasun Shanaka led in his absence and took the team to a win in the T20I series. After recovering from injury, he underwent mandatory RT-PCR tests in a bid to return to training and the wicketkeeper's reports returned positive.

This has certainly put him in doubt for the home series against South Africa. These are also the last set of matches Sri Lanka will be playing before the ICC T20 World Cup to be played in UAE and Oman from October 18. Sri Lanka will also be playing the qualifiers and have to play some very good cricket to make it to the Super 12.

As far as South Africa's tour of Sri Lanka is concerned, the two teams will be facing each other in three ODIs first followed by as many T20 Internationals. The ODI series will start on September 2 with the other two matches to be played on September 4 and 7 respectively.

The three T20Is will then take place on September 10, 12 and 14. All the matches will be played in a bio-secure bubble at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The IPL bound players of South Africa will then leave to the UAE for the second leg of IPL 2021.