BCCI physical trainer tests positive for COVID-19

Physical trainer M. Shalini, who was set to be part of Women’s T20 Challenge as support staff, tested positive for COVID-19 after all the players and the support personnel underwent mandatory tests three times from October 14 to 19, the New Indian Express reported.



The three-team Women’s T20 Challenge is scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 4 to 9. Like last year, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj will lead Supernovas, Trailblazers and Velocity respectively. All the 50 members of the contingent arrived in Mumbai on October 13 and are currently undergoing mandatory nine days quarantine. Shalini is the only one whose test returned positive and she will not be travelling with the squad when they leave for UAE on October 21.



The report says Shalini, who was set to be part of the Velocity staff, was tested positive in one of the tests done before the final set of tests done on Monday. As there is no time for her to recover and re-join the squads in the bio-bubble she was left out and a replacement has been named.



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Earlier India cricketer Mansi Joshi was tested positive during the first round of tests that was done at their home towns and was subsequently replaced by Uttar Pradesh pacer Meghna Singh.



These two are the only instances of testing positive in the whole set of tests conducted. Since all the players and support staffs were confined to their rooms in the hotel as they were not allowed to leave or interact with others, there won’t any furthermore tests before they fly out to Dubai for the tournament.



All four matches are likely to be played in Sharjah. The Indian contingent will be joined by the overseas stars and the whole contingent will be put up in the same hotel (as a part of the bio-secure bubble) and will stay in isolation till October 28. During that period, they will have three COVID-19 tests and upon coming negative the teams will start training at Sharjah International Stadium.