The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to send any extra player to the United Kingdom in the wake of Covid-19 cases being reported in the camp, The Indian Express reported. Notably, Rishabh Pant is under quarantine after testing positive for the novel Coronavirus on July 8 while the other wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha is under isolation as well after coming in close contact with the throwdown specialist who tested positive.
“No," The Indian Express quoted a BCCI official as saying while responding to the question of whether the board is willing to send additional players foreseeing a crisis.
Apart from Saha and, bowling coach Bharat Arun and batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran are also under self-isolation as they had come under close contact of Garani.
“Pant, who had not stayed in the team hotel during the break period, tested positive on 8th July. He is asymptomatic and currently undergoing self-isolation at the place where he reported positive. He is being closely monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and is on his way to recovery. He will be able to join the squad in Durham after returning two negative RT-PCR tests,” said the BCCI press release.
The selectors had earlier picked a 20-man squad and four standbys players for the tour. The visitors though suffered a blow after opener Shubman Gill was ruled out of the series after he suffered a shin splits which would take at least three months for recovery.