Indian Cricketer Tests COVID Positive In England, Says BCCI

Mumbai: Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, one of the 23 Indian cricketers touring England at present, has tested positive for COVID-19 and would not be travelling with the team to Durham.

According to BCCI sources, Pant is home quarantined at his relatives’ place at present.

Sources said the left-hander experienced a sore throat, which led to a COVID test and it returned positive.

It is understood that Pant has been afflicted by the Delta variant which has led to rising number of cases in England.

BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla confirmed the news, but refused to identify the player.

“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,” Shukla told news agency PTI.

“There’s no problem and no other player has been found positive, this is all rumour which is being spread. Team India is fine. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has written a mail to the team management that everybody should follow COVID protocols and the team has to be very careful,” he added.

Recently, the BCCI secretary had sent an e-mail to the Indian contingent in England, warning it about the rising cases of COVID-19.

The side is to reassemble at Durham in a bio-bubble ahead of the Test series against England next month. 

The news of the Indian cricketer testing positive comes in the wake of the virus sweeping through the England camp ahead of their limited-overs home series against Pakistan. Last week before the first ODI against Pakistan, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that seven members of the team including three players and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19.