India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not travel with the Test squad to Durham, where Team India will reassemble to begin preparations for the England series. A BCCI source confirmed that it was Pant who tested positive and was 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.
A few weeks earlier the player was spotted with a friend at a packed Wembley Stadium enjoying the Euro 2020 knock-out match between England and Germany.
It is understood that Pant has been afflicted by the Delta variant which has led to the rising number of cases in England.
“Yes, one player has tested positive but he has been in isolation for the last eight days. He was not staying in any hotel with the team, so no other player has been affected. But I can’t divulge the name of the player,” BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla told PTI on Thursday.
“As of now, no other player has tested positive. Also, you must be aware our secretary Jay Shah has written a letter to all players to maintain protocols,” Shukla added.
Earlier reported that two of the 23 Indian cricketers in the ongoing tour of England have tested positive for COVID-19 during the 20-day break and will not be travelling with the team to Durham on Thursday.
The report further stated that one of the COVID-19 positive players has already returned negative while the other is in isolation.
The news comes in the wake of BCCI secretary Jay Shah recently sending an e-mail to the Indian contingent in the United Kingdom 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.