Sri Lanka fast bowler Suranga Lakmal has clarified reports of him playing a card game during the England tests series, that were circulated on social media recently.

Speaking during an interview, Lakmal said the reports are false, and he was not involved in a card game during the match.

Stating that he was injured during the South Africa series, Lakmal said he was not included as the 15th or even 17th player in the squad announced for the England test series.

“I was not included in the squad, as I was training after recovering from an injury,” he said.

Suranga Lakmal further said he was training for the second test, and usually plays a game of cards to relax after intense training.

Clarifying that he had not played this particular card game while the test match was ongoing, he explained that players are not allowed to carry playing cards into the team’s resting area.