Kusal Mendis tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of Australia T20Is

Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis, who was part of the team for the T20I series against Australia, has tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently undergoing isolation, SLC has confirmed in a media release.

Mendis was found to be positive after a routine Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) was conducted on Monday (February 7), after which a PCR test was conducted.

Mendis returned to the Sri Lanka side after his one-year ban was revoked last month, for the ODI series against Zimbabwe. Mendis was banned along with teammates Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathiaka for breaching Covid-19 protocols during Sri Lanka's tour of England last year.

While Mendia and Gunathilaka made it to the squad for the Australia T20Is, there was no place for wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. Sri Lanka and Australia are scheduled to play a five-match T20I series, starting Friday (February 11) at SCG.

Mendis, who made his T20I debut against England in 2016 has scored 538 runs in 29 T20I innings at a strike-rate of 127.18