Rishabh Pant, Team India support staff member test positive for COVID-19

The Indian cricket team has recently been hit with another COVID-19 scare. Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant and training assistant Dayanand Garani have tested positive for the virus, the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah revealed on Thursday. The men’s senior team was on a three-week break in England following their disappointing loss at the hands of New Zealand in the final of the ICC World Test Championship that was held at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

PANT REPORTEDLY NEARING RECOVERY

Pant had tested positive for the virus on July 8 and has been self-isolating at the same place where he tested positive. The wicket-keeper batter had not stayed at the team hotel during the break, and is close to completing his quarantine period. The BCCI stated that the Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper is currently asymptomatic. He is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team at the moment and will be able to join the rest of the squad in Durham, after he successfully submits two negative RT-PCR tests.

“Pant, who had not stayed in the team hotel during the break period, tested positive on 8th July. He is asymptomatic and currently undergoing self-isolation at the place where he reported positive. Pant is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and is on his way to recovery. He will be able to join the squad in Durham after returning two negative RT-PCR tests,” the statement read.

THREE MORE ISOLATED

However, things are not looking so bright for a few other members of the Indian side. Garani tested positive for the virus after the RT-PCR tests on July 14. He is said to have been close with the team’s bowling coach B Arun, veteran wicket-keeper batter Wriddhiman Saha, and Abhimanyu Easwaran. As per the BCCI, the four will undergo a 10-day isolation period and will remain in their respective rooms in the team hotel in London.

“The BCCI Medical Team have identified B. Arun, Bowling Coach, Wriddhiman Saha, and Abhimanyu Easwaran as close contacts of Garani, who was in the team hotel when he tested positive following RT-PCR tests on 14th July. The four personnel will undergo 10-day isolation and will remain in their respective rooms in the team hotel in London,” read the BCCI statement.

SAFETY FIRST

The BCCI also said that the whole Indian contingent, including travelling family members and caretakers, were administered with the second dose of COVID vaccine earlier this month to bring down the risks of the virus as much as possible.

“The entire Indian contingent including travelling family members and caretakers were administered with the second dose of covid vaccine earlier this month in London. To mitigate any further risks, the Indian contingent is taking the Lateral Flow Test on a daily basis,” the BCCI statement read.

The Indian cricket team is scheduled to begin their preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, with a three-day warm-up game at Emirates Riverside against County XI starting on Tuesday.