ESPNcricinfo reports that a sixth Covid case has indeed been identified in the Delhi Capitals camp after a foreign player tested positive. The organizers have left the possibility of rescheduling the Delhi-Punjab match open only if DC becomes unable to play 11 negative-tested players.
The likelihood of a Covid-19 outbreak in the IPL 2022 increases after a second foreign player in the Delhi Capitals squad tested positive for the virus. This development casts doubt on today’s match between the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. The positive results were discovered during a round of Rapid Antigen Tests on Wednesday morning.
The match was originally scheduled to take place in Pune but was moved to Mumbai due to a few positive instances in the Delhi Capitals camp. The organisers have also reserved the right to reschedule the match, but this option will be exercised only if DC are unable to pitch 11 players who tested negative for drugs. The news indicates that PBKS players are en-route to the location.
The player is the sixth positive case in the DC camp, following positive tests for sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar, Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh, physio Patrick Farhart, team physician Abhijit Salvi, and social media content team member Akash Mane. Mitchell Marsh was reportedly transferred to a hospital as a preventive measure due to health concerns, including experiencing chills. The squad’s remaining members who are determined to be positive are relocated to a different facility located outside of the team hotel.
As was the case last year, IPL 2021 had a similar start to a Covid outbreak. Sandeep Warrier and Varun Chakravarthy of KKR both tested positive, and the infection spread across the KKR organisation. Eventually, members of the teams that had recently faced KKR were discovered to be positive, and the tournament was rescheduled. It was separated into two phases, with the second taking place in the United Arab Emirates.
This time, a similar outbreak has begun, and the next course of action will determine the tournament’s outcome.
