two clubs may still be able to field imports in Warrnambool and District Cricket Association despite travel ban

Russells Creek's Rukshan Weerasinghe and Port Fairy's Jason Perera are still in the south-west as Victoria enters its eighth week under COVID-19 restrictions.

Both are signed to play for their respective clubs next season.

It's unclear how long Australia's ban on international travel will be enforced.

Some experts, including chief medical officer Brendan Murphy, have speculated international travel could be on the shelf for "at least three to four months" but conceded "it's very hard to put a timeline on anything at the moment".

Infectious disease expert Professor Peter Collignon, a former World Health Organisation employee, suggested borders could be closed until at least October.

Professor Collignon speculated overseas travel could be allowed before Christmas if cases decreased around the world.

Russells Creek coach Andrew Thomson hoped Weerasinghe, who blasted 360 runs last season, would be available to play.

He said Weerasinghe's partner, who is still in Sri Lanka, hoped to travel to Australia on a student visa in future.

Warrnambool and District Cricket Association rules stipulate clubs can field one overseas player.

Just six clubs opted to sign imports in the 2019-20 season, a reduction on the eight that took the field the season before.

Of the six prospects, three - Allansford's Finn Bryan, Wesley-CBC's Daniel Jones and West Warrnambool's Jack Sunderland - departed mid-season.

Warrnambool and District Cricket Association chairman Gordon McLeod said the competition encouraged clubs to make use of the rule but was not reliant on overseas talent.

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"It's more a bonus," he said. "It's great if overseas players want to come and play in the association as it helps (raise the standard).

"There wasn't that many this year but they're nice to have to enrich (the competition)."

McLeod said he couldn't see restrictions for overseas travel lifting in the immediate future despite Australia's early success in controlling the virus.

He said the WDCA executive had applied to extend its annual general meeting date as COVID-19 restrictions made a July meeting impractical. McLeod said the board would assess whether an October start was viable once there was more clarity surrounding football and netball seasons.

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