SLC invites sports medicine doctor to brief Captains

By BIPIN DANI

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday invited Sports Medicine Doctor Daminda Attanayake to brief the two captains - Dimuth Karunaratne (Test and ODI) Lasith Malinga (T20I) - and all members of the support staff on the procedure to follow before they could begin training for the players. 

Attanayake is an experienced visiting lecturer with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. 

The one-hour meeting which took place at the SLC Headquarters was also attended by the Head Coach, Mickey Arthur and Batting Coach Grant Flower. 
“No specific date for the commencement of net sessions was finalised but it was made clear that the group of only 15 players could begin practices at a time and they will be required to be isolated” according to SLC sources. 
“If they are put up in a hotel or at a residential camp they will not be allowed to go home for two weeks and no visitor will be allowed in the gym or ground wherever they train,” the sources further added.
“During this period their meals will be specially prepared and no outside food will be allowed.” 

“Both captains and the support staff members are keen to begin net practices for the players soon but they also emphasised the importance of maintaining their medical safety.” 

The coaches may decide to begin practice sessions in different stages and the fast bowlers may be put on trial first. 

Another meeting is likely to take place after 10 days and it is unlikely that the net practices could begin before June 1.