Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella to be investigated after alleged bio-bubble breach

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A video has emerged, showing the two Sri Lanka cricketers out in a public place in England

There are serious concerns that two Sri Lanka cricketers have breached the team’s bio-bubble in England, after a video emerged on Twitter showing Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella out in a public space.

Sri Lanka manager Manuja Kariyapperuma told ESPNcricinfo that the team management would be investigating the matter on Monday, but could not confirm whether a breach had actually taken place. However, the area that Mendis and Dickwella have been seen to be in, in the images that have come out, does not appear to be in the vicinity of the team hotel in Durham, Kariyapperuma said.

If it is discovered that Mendis and Dickwella had indeed breached the bubble, they would likely be required to isolate for several days, and are not going to be available for the first two ODIs of the three-match series, at least. It is also possible that Sri Lanka Cricket would impose additional penalties on each player.

This potential breach of Covid-19-related health protocols has come in the midst of a difficult tour for Sri Lanka. They were swept aside in the T20Is 3-0, never really having challenged England through the course of the series. Neither player had a particularly good time of it in the three games, Mendis totaling 54 runs with a best of 39 in his three outings with the bat (strike rate 98.18), and Dickwella scoring 14 runs in two innings to go with a barren run behind the stumps.

The team had already attracted criticism from former players and the public for their performances on the field, and now face questions over their behaviour off it as well.

The first of three ODIs against England is scheduled for Tuesday.

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf

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