Six players of India’s Under-19 team in the Caribbean, including skipper Yash Dhull and vice-captain SK Rasheed, are in isolation after testing revealed at least one positive Covid-19 contracted case. On Wednesday (January 19), Nishant Sindhu led a somewhat depleted squad into a U-19 World Cup match against Ireland in Trinidad.
The medical update was given by the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) through an official statement. With numerous players being unavailable, it was posing difficult for the squad to square off in the second game of the U-19 World Cup. However, fortunately for India, the International Cricket Council has approved a roster of 17 players for the competition.
“The India U19 squad currently taking part in the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 have reported COVID-19 positive cases following RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests. Ahead of their second Group B clash against Ireland U19 on Wednesday morning, six members out of the 17-member squad were ruled out of selection,” said the BCCI statement.
The Covid-19 contracted players include Sidharth Yadav, Manav Parakh, Vasu Vats, Yash Dhull, Aaradhya Yadav, and SK Rasheed.
According to the BCCI, Sidharth Yadav’s RT-PCR test result was positive, while Yash Dhull, Aaradhya Yadav, and SK Rasheed’s Rapid-Antigen test results were all positive.
Manav Parakh and Vasu Vats both tested negative, but they are exhibiting symptoms and are isolating themselves.
“We understand that some players have come in close contact with Covid positive players and as a measure of precaution the players have been isolated. The fact that they are playing Ireland has helped the team management. The team wants to avoid risk ahead of the bigger games,” Cricbuzz reported a source as saying.
A positive test result of Covid-19 might result in 10-day isolation, but the Indian team, having defeated South Africa on January 15 and being in a strong position against poor Ireland at the halfway point of the tournament, is understandably unconcerned. On January 22, they play Uganda in their second Group B league encounter, which is unlikely to be particularly difficult. The squad is likely to make the Super League quarter-finals, which will begin on January 26.
The BCCI is expected to hold a meeting in the presence of selectors Ranadeb Bose and Prateek Patel, and National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman after the match against Ireland and gauge the situation and map a plan of action.
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