England’s cricket team will avoid “unnecessary contact” including not giving autographs and taking selfies with fans as part of coronavirus precautions ahead of Sri Lanka series.
SHOWS: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (MARCH 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN, JOE ROOT, SAYING: "In terms of precautions, we're just doing as we're told.
We've been told to try and avoid certain situations and avoid hand contact and any unnecessary contact when possible which is against our nature as a team.
We quite like to socialise and interact with fans and take selfies, autographs and stuff, but it means we can't do that on this trip, then so be it.
We have to do what we have to do to make sure we are looking after ourselves as a team and the series.
I don't think the guys are worried about it." 2.
NEWS CONFERENCE 3.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SRI LANKA CAPTAIN, DIMUTH KARUNARATNE, SAYING: "For now, I think we are really focusing on cricket, what we have to do in the next few weeks.
So, we are not worried about corona (virus) up to now." STORY: England skipper Joe Root on Wednesday (March 11) said his side will avoid "unnecessary contact" and refrain from taking selfies or giving autographs to fans in Sri Lanka as they prepare for a two-test series here starting at Galle on March 19.
The side had already decided to replace handshakes with fist bumps to avoid contamination, but Root said his team mates were not too worried about the contagion.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne said his squad was focused on the cricket and was also not too concerned by the coronavirus.
Furthermore, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) urged travelling England fans to maintain good levels of hygiene to avoid infection or spreading of the virus.
Sri Lanka has not cancelled any sporting or public events due to the spreading illness, but has detected at least one local person infected with the virus.
The government of Sri Lanka has imposed strict controls at entry points to the Indian Ocean island nation.
(Production: Waruna Karunatilake, Kurt Michael Hall)
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