Rishabh Pant and a staff member infected with Corona
Young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and throw-down specialist Dayanand Garani have tested positive for Kovid 19 during the England tour. As mentioned earlier, both have been kept in isolation. Three more members Wriddhiman Saha, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Bharat Arun who came in close contact with him have also been isolated.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed in a statement that Pant was found positive on July 8 and has been in isolation since then, while Garani was found positive on July 14. The Indian team is on a three-week break after the World Test Championship final.
The BCCI said in a statement, Pant has no symptoms and is currently under quarantine at the same place where he came to know about the corona test report coming positive. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring him and he is recovering. He will be able to join the team in Durham after two Corona negative reports.
It is noteworthy that before the first ODI against Pakistan last week, the original team of England was also hit by the corona virus. This forced the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to announce a revised squad, with Ben Stokes as the captain.
Meanwhile, the BCCI medical team has identified bowling coaches Bharat Arun, Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Easwaran as close contacts of Garani, who was at the team hotel after the corona test on July 14. Four staff personnel will also not travel with the team to Durham and will undergo a 10-day quarantine in their respective rooms at the Team Hotel in London.
According to the BCCI, the entire Indian team, including the traveling family members and caretakers, has been given the second dose of the corona vaccine in London earlier this month. The Indian team is conducting lateral flow tests on a daily basis to minimize any further risk.
It is noteworthy that the Indian team will begin its preparations for the upcoming five-match Test series against England with a three-day warm-up match against County XI at Emirates Riverside from Tuesday. The India-England Test series beginning on August 4 marks the beginning of the second round of the WTC.
