A couple of Team India cricketers touring England have tested positive for COVID ahead of the five-match Test series against England. The news comes in after BCCI secretary Jay Shah had warned the cricketers about the rising cases in the UK.
“Yes, one of the players has tested positive although he is largely asymptomatic currently. He is in quarantine at an acquaintance’s place and won’t be travelling with the team to Durham on Thursday,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
*Breaking News*
A member of the Indian cricket team touring the U.K. has tested positive for COVID-19#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/YtX66wRYMm
— CricFit (@CricFit) July 15, 2021
Meanwhile, Indian cricketers were in a break after the heavy defeat in the WTC final against New Zealand. Many cricketers were seen attending the Euro 2020 games while others were spotted at Wimbledon.
While the touring party in the UK is tight-lipped about the name of the player, it is understood that he has been afflicted by the Delta variant which is on a rise in the UK. Jay Shah, in his letter, told the players to “avoid” crowded places as Covishield only provides protection, not full immunity against the virus.
Moreover, the Jay Shah letter had specified that cricketers should avoid crowded places like Wimbledon and Euro 2020.
Team India cricketers to assemble in Durham
Meanwhile, after a 20-day break, the cricketers will reassemble on July 15 (Thursday) in Durham. They will undergo COVID tests before being allowed to enter the bio-bubble.
India will play a couple of warm-up games leading up to the five-match Test series against England, which starts on August 4 in Nottingham.
Young talented opener Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the tour with an injury and as per reports, Mayank Agarwal is likely to partner Rohit Sharma at the top. The management wanted the likes of Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal in England but the national selection committee has turned down the offer.
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