Australia's Zampa misses Sri Lanka match with COVID-19

Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa has been left out of Tuesday's Twenty20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Perth after contracting COVID-19 with minor symptoms.

He has been replaced in the starting XI by left-arm spinner Ashton Agar.

As per cricket.com.au, "A team spokesperson confirmed Zampa recently returned a positive test but is only displaying minor symptoms. It puts him in considerable doubt for Tuesday evening's match at Perth Stadium, though the team insists he remains available for selection,"

Earlier, there were doubts about his selection when the results of his test came out. 

Leading to speculation that Ashton Agar might get a chance to play on home soil. Agar, who had played just one match in the last edition of the T20 World Cup, featured in the warm-up game against India.

The World Cup rules state that Covid-positive players are still allowed to play.

Earlier, Ireland's George Dockrell played against Sri Lanka on Sunday in Hobart despite the team identifying him as "potentially positive". Dockrell was forced to travel separately from his teammates, with team medical staff managing his movements and interactions. If Zampa was to be selected, he and Cricket Australia would need to operate under the same guidelines.

Defending champions Australia started their ICC T20 World Cup 2022 campaign with an 89-run loss to New Zealand, their first defeat at home to their arch-rivals since February 2009 in white-ball cricket.

The Kiwis had last won a white-ball game, a One Day International (ODI) against Australia during the Chappell Hadlee Trophy in February 2009. They had to wait for more than 13 years to register their next win against the Aussies in white-ball cricket in Australia.

Their loss of 89-runs is their biggest loss by runs in T20 World Cup history. Their previous record was a 74-run loss to West Indies in the 2012 edition of the tournament. The biggest loss in ICC T20 World Cup history is Kenya's 172-run loss to Sri Lanka in the inaugural T20 WC back in 2007.

Australia will need to defeat Sri Lanka by a good margin to stay alive in the tournament after losing by 89 runs against New Zealand, in their opener in Sydney.