Two more players leave LPL

By Bipin Dani

Not long after the departure of Shahid Afridi (Galle Gladiators) and Aftab Alam (Dambulla Viiking) from the Lanka Premier League (LPL), two more players are scheduled to leave the first edition of the tournament.

Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir and Canadian Ravinderpal Singh, who tested positive for Covid-19, will play no part in the tournament.

"(They) are scheduled to return home catching the first available flights," one of the sources said.

"Their last PCR tests were negative but as per the American Medical Association guidelines for Covid recovered patients much more care needs to be taken," Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the Medical Director of the tournament confirmed.

"According to the evidence emerging Covid infection can result in a higher amount of myocarditis (swelling of the heart) when compared to other viral infections (22% of hospitalized patients vs about 1 % for normal viral infections).

"Therefore in athletes it is better to do ECHO and in some patients even MRI may be required as professional athletes engage in severe exercise. It is therefore advised that even in asymptomatic athletes after the two weeks of quarantine the player should undergo a gradual medically supervised programme over 2 two weeks before the resumption of competitive sports. Unless he or she undergoes extensive testing before. If there is myocarditis then the usual protocol of 3 months will apply," Arjuna explained.