After the news of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant testing positive for COVID-19 broke on Thursday morning, now it has been learnt that a staff member of the Indian Test team has also tested positive for the infection. Meanwhile, three coaching assistants of the team have been isolated, NDTV quoted sources as saying. The Indian team is currently is in England for the five-match Test series. With the team all set to play a three-day warm-up match starting July 20 against a County Select XI at Chester-le-Street in Durham, neither Rishabh Pant nor the aforementioned staff members have travelled there.
Earlier in the day, a BCCI source confirmed to news agency PTI that Pant has been in isolation for the past eight days. He is, according to the source, asymptomatic at this point. "He is in quarantine at an acquaintance's place and won't be travelling with the team to Durham on Thursday," he said without divulging when the 23-year-old will join the squad. However, he is likely to undergo a COVID-19 test in the next couple of days.
The development comes close on the heels of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah sending an e-mail to the Indian contingent, warning it about the rising cases of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom (UK).
Shah, in his letter, told the players to "avoid" crowded places as Covishield, the vaccine which has been given to the team, only provides protection, not full immunity against the virus.
In fact, Shah's letter had specifically stated that players should avoid going to the Wimbledon and Euro Championships, both of which recently concluded there.
(With PTI inputs)