After being infected by it, I was bound to feel scared. Everyone in the family was very worried, said Wriddhiman Saha[/caption]
India cricket team member Wriddhiman Saha has tested positive for the coronavirus for the second time despite being in isolation for two weeks.
The Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will have to remain in isolation before having to undergo another round of testing, the Indo media confirmed yesterday (16).
Yet his participation in the forthcoming England tour of the Indian Test cricket team is likely to be in doubt.
Should test negative if he is to go for WTC Final
Saha is in the India squad for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand, which is to begin at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, England from Friday, 18 June.
However, his availability for the tour will be subject to fitness clearance. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already made it clear that players who arrive in Mumbai to get into the bio-bubble, before their departure to England, will have to test negative. If they test positive, they will be out of contention, the media reports emerging from India stressed.
Saha’s family in panic
Saha was one of the players who tested positive for the coronavirus in IPL 2021. Amit Mishra, Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier, and Prasidh Krishna all tested positive for the coronavirus. IPL 2021 was postponed indefinitely on 4 May.
One news report said yesterday that Saha had revealed that “everyone became scared” due to the news that he had been tested positive for Covid-19 for a second time in quick succession.
“After being infected by it, I was bound to feel scared. Everyone in the family was very worried. We reassured them through video calls that there is no reason to be afraid,” Saha had said.
India team bio-bubble starts on 25 May in Mumbai
The Indian players picked for the tour to England will all enter a bio-bubble in Mumbai for eight days starting from 25 May.
After spending some time in the bio-bubble, they will depart to the United Kingdom on 2 June. On arrival, they will be in quarantine for 10 days.
After the end of the ICC WTC Final against New Zealand, India will play five Tests against England from August to September.