BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has backed Rishabh Pant after the wicketkeeper-batsman tested positive for the coronavirus in England. In an interview with News18, the former India captain said, "We have seen Euro Championship and Wimbledon in England. Rules have changed (with crowd being allowed inside venues). They were on leave and it's physically impossible to wear mask all the time." Pant had posted a mask-less image of him at the Wembley Stadium, where he watched the Euro 2020 round of 16 game between England and Germany.
Throwdown specialist Dayanand Garani also tested positive for Covid-19 while three other members of the team were placed in precautionary isolation.
Bowling coach Bharath Arun, reserve wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha were put in isolation for having come in contact with Garani along with standby opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, whose inclusion had raked up a recent storm. Garani's COVID report came this morning.
"Pant, who had not stayed in the team hotel during the break period, tested positive on 8th July. He is asymptomatic and currently undergoing self-isolation at the place where he reported positive," BCCI sectetary Jay Shah said in an official statement. "He is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and is on his way to recovery. He will be able to join the squad in Durham after returning two negative RT-PCR tests," Shah added.
All five are currently in London while the rest are reaching Durham this evening after reassembling from a 20-day break. "The four personnel will undergo 10-day isolation and will remain in their respective rooms in the team hotel in London," the BCCI said.
The Board said that all travelling family members and caretakers with the team have also been administered with the second dose of COVID vaccine earlier this month in London. "To mitigate any further risks, the Indian contingent is taking the Lateral Flow Test on a daily basis," the media statement from Shah said, referring to the daily testing mechanism which can give results in 15-30 minutes.
Pant, Easwaran and Saha will miss the practice match scheduled to start on July 20 against a combined county side with both Bengal players along with Arun in 10-day isolation. Pant will also need recovery time and won't play the game.
