Four Mumbai players test positive for Covid

Sarfaraz Khan. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Four Mumbai cricketers on Wednesday morning were sent back home from Mumbai's domestic airport after testing positive for Coronavirus.

The 20-member Mumbai team led by India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, were all set to depart to Guwahati where they will participate in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament from November 4.

The players who tested negative were allowed to board the flight, but the four players, who tested positive, were barred from the T2 Terminal first checkpoint, where screening of passengers is conducted.

All-rounder Shams Mulani, middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan, leggie Prashant Solanki and medium pacer-batter Sairaj Patil have tested positive.

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It is understood that the team were not in a bio-secure bubble. However, mandatory body temperature checks were conducted whenever the team members assembled for training and practice. RT-PCR tests were conducted on Tuesday.

The chairman of selectors Salil Ankola promptly provided four replacements. However, the names were not declared officially by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) as one of the players selected is suspected to be COVID positive. The test reports are awaited though.

There is also a furor in the MCA over the selection of the four replacement players.

It is learnt that one of the four players, who tested positive, had fever for two days but continued to attend training and practice sessions.

It is not clear whether the player disclosed his illness to the team management or the MCA.

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