IND vs SL hit by COVID: After Krunal Pandya, BCCI suspects more players to test positive, 8 cricketers identified as close contacts – Shikhar Dhawan-led Team India’s plans were dealt a heavy blow after Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, forcing the match to be postponed by a day. However, the entire series is now in jeopardy as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expects more positive cases within the camp. For now, 8 other cricketers have been identified and have been put into isolation.
With Krunal Pandya also mingling with Sri Lankan cricketers, many could also test positive in the Sri Lankan team.
NEWS : Krunal Pandya tests positive.
Second Sri Lanka-India T20I postponed to July 28.
The entire contingent is undergoing RT-PCR tests today to ascertain any further outbreak in the squad.#SLvIND
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 27, 2021
IND vs SL hit by COVID: “Following the Rapid Antigen Tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning, Team India all-rounder Krunal Pandya was found to be positive. The Medical Teams have identified eight members as close contacts,” the BCCI said in a statement.
IND vs SL hit by COVID: Why the entire series is in jeopardy?
- Krunal Pandya played the 1st T20 and mingled with the entire squad being at the dugout.
- Krunal was also seen hugging Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, raising concerns that he might test positive as well.
- The entire contingent is going through a more reliable RT-PCR test to understand the extent of the outbreak.
- Krunal Pandya could test negative in the RT-PCR test as the Rapid Antigen test is often unreliable.
- But if he tests positive in the RT-PCT test, the entire series could be postponed as Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 rules dictate a minimum 7-day isolation period for all close contacts.
- 8 other cricketers have been identified as close contacts of Krunal Pandya.
The entire contingent will now go through more reliable RT-PCR tests to understand the extent of the COVID outbreak. If no players test positive in the RT-PCR test, the 2nd T20 match will be played on Wednesday, July 28 and the 2nd T20 will be played as per schedule on July 29.
However, if more players test positive, the series could be postponed indefinitely. During the match, Krunal Pandya was also seen hugging Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, raising concerns that he could test positive as well, furthering the extend of the outbreak into Sri Lanka camp.
“Krunal has tested positive and the T20I on Tuesday has been postponed and will happen on Wednesday if all the others test negative. The players are currently isolating,” a source told ANI.
