India ICC U-19 World Cup captain Yash Dhull, five others test positive

Yash Dhull - TheSportingHub
The players, including skipper Yash Dhull (in pic) will remain in isolation but will be under constant supervision of the BCCI. Photo: CricTracker.com

India’s campaign at the ICC Under-19 World Cup has suffered a big blow. Captain Yash Dhull and five other players have been reported positive for COVID-19. All the five missed Wednesday’s Group B game against Ireland.

With six players ruled out of action, India could barely manage to put up an XI to take on Ireland.

Vice-captain Sheikh Rasheed too is among the infected players. The development has severely dented India’s campaign. Aaradhya Yadav, Vasu Vats, Manav Parakh, and Siddharth Yadav were also found infected with the virus.

The BCCI on Wednesday released the following medical bulletin:

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.

The medical status of the six members is as below:

Sidharth Yadav – RT-PCR Test result has returned positive. Manav Parakh – Has shown symptoms. His RT-PCR test result is awaited. Rapid Antigen Test result has returned negative.Vasu Vats – Has shown symptoms. His RT-PCR test result is awaited. Rapid Antigen Test result has returned negative.

AlsoRead:- Lionel Messi back in full training for PSG after COVID 

Yash Dhull – Rapid Antigen Test result has returned positive. Aaradhya Yadav – Rapid Antigen Test result has returned positive SK Rasheed – Rapid Antigen Test result has returned positive.

The Board is monitoring the situation closely and is in touch with the management and the coaching group.

The players will remain in isolation but will be under constant supervision of the BCCI Medical Team, stated the bulletin.

“Three Indian players had tested positive yesterday and were already isolated. In the morning before match our captain and vice captain also tested positive in Rapid Antigen Test which is not (considered) conclusive,” PTI quoted a BCCI official as saying.

“So they, as precautionary measure, were pulled out. We only had 11 available players and six isolated.”

Skipper Dhull and Rasheed had featured in the opening game against South Africa.

The team played its opening game in Guyana and travelled to Trinidad for the match against Ireland. It is suspected that the infection may have been contracted during their stay in Guyana.

India are scheduled to take on Uganda on Saturday and it remains to be seen whether that match goes ahead.

While the infected players stay in isolation, BCCI is contemplating roping in some stand-bye players.

Agencies

ReadMore:- Case of double standards for vaccine naysayer Novak Djokovic