Mumbai: A trouble for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suddenly increased after team India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant tested positive on July 8. Training assistant Dayanand Garani and Wriddhiman Saha were also tested Covid-19 positive.
According to the media report, Even though a couple of members in the Team India contingent in England have tested COVID-19 positive, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is unlikely to send any replacement player to the UK.
The BCCI will not be sending any additional players to England to join the Team India contingent. Pant is asymptomatic and is nearing the end of his isolation period, the need for more players may not arise.
Before Team India, seven members of England’s ODI contingent for the Pakistan series had also tested COVID-19 positive, forcing the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to announce a completely new squad for the series.
A few members of the Sri Lankan camp, including batting coach Grant Flower, were also found COVID-19 positive after returning from England.
India is still on the red list of the UK, and if any player is being flown into England from India – will have to undergo strict quarantine and follow the travel restrictions in place. Considering the COVID-19 scenario, the selectors picked a 20-member Team India squad plus four standbys for the tour of England.
Amid the spread of the Delta variant in the UK, Team India members were seen visiting sporting events where crowds were allowed. While Pant and Jasprit Bumrah were at Wembley for Euro 2020 games, head coach Ravi Shastri attended Wimbledon.
Apart from Pant and Saha, bowling Coach Bharat Arun and reserve opener Abhimanyu Easwaran are also in isolation after being identified as Garani’s close contacts.