Jay Shah recently sent an e-mail to the Indian contingent in the United Kingdom warning it about the rising cases of COVID-19. In fact, Jay Shah’s letter had specifically stated that players should avoid going to Wimbledon and Euro Championships, which recently concluded there. The Indian team is due to take on hosts England in a five-match Test series starting August 4.
Jay Shah, in his letter, told the players to “avoid” crowded places as Covishield only provides protection, not full immunity against the virus. BCCI Vice-president Rajiv Shukla informed that one player had tested positive and is under isolation for the last eight days and wasn’t staying in the hotel with any other members of the team.
Jay Shah Warned Cricketers To Avoid Going To Crowded Places But It Wasn’t Adhered To
With the recent COVID-19 scare in England, which affected the Eoin Morgan-led side and seven members of the squad had tested positive, the BCCI secretary had sent a mail to the Indian contingent warning of the recent rise in cases in the country and to avoid going to crowded places. According to a report, Rishabh Pant has been affected by the Delta variant of the coronavirus, which has caused the recent rise in cases.
However, Rishabh Pant, one of the 23 Indian cricketers in the ongoing tour of England had tested positive for COVID-19 during the 20-day break and will not be traveling with the team to Durham on Thursday. The side is to reassemble at Durham in a bio-bubble ahead of the Test series against England next month.
“Yes, one of the players has tested positive although he is largely asymptomatic currently. He is in quarantine at an acquaintance’s place and won’t be traveling with the team to Durham on Thursday,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
While the touring party in the UK is tight-lipped about the name of the player, it is understood that he has been afflicted by the Delta variant which has led to the rising number of cases there.
Rishabh Pant Seen Attending An Euro 2020 Match
Rishabh Pant was seen attending a Euro championship match last month and had even posted pictures on his social media accounts. A few weeks earlier Rishabh Pant was spotted with a friend at a packed Wembley Stadium enjoying the Euro 2020 knock-out match between England and Germany.
Meanwhile, in the last few days, players from England and Sri Lanka had also tested positive for the virus. After the conclusion of the England series, upon returning home, there was a Covid outbreak in the Sri Lankan camp too, that led to the postponement of the limited-overs series against India. After batting coach Grant Flower and data analyst GT Niroshan were tested positive, the series was shifted to July 18 instead of July 13.
Not heeding to Jay Shah’s letter, players like Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Hanuma Vihari had come to watch the Euro Cup without a mask. Even Team India coach Ravi Shastri himself had come to see Wimbledon without a mask. Jay Shah’s message reached the team management at a time when almost all the tournaments in England were over which included the Euro Cup football tournament and Wimbledon.
Indian players were seen roaming without masks in all these tournaments. BCCI continued the leave of Indian players even after 3 England players came to be Corona positive and now the team is stuck in trouble 5 days before the practice match.