Two IPL players have tested positive for coronavirus forcing the management to reschedule tonight’s match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In a statement, the IPL said that all other team members had tested negative.
“Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier were found to be positive in the third round of testing in the last four days. All other team members have tested negative for COVID -19,” the IPL said.
Both Chakravarthy and Warrier are reported to have isolated themselves from the rest of the squad. The IPL said, “The Medical Team is in continuous touch with the duo and are monitoring their health.”
Meanwhile, the KKR have now moved towards a daily testing routine to identify any other possible cases and treat them at the earliest.
The Medical Team is also determining the close and casual contacts of the two positive cases during the 48 hours prior to collection of the sample that returned the positive test results. The BCCI and the Kolkata Knight Riders prioritise the health and safety of everyone involved and all measures are being taken in that endeavour.
However, the decision to reschedule tonight’s match has not gone down well with some fans as they demanded a full deduction of points from the KKR. One fan wrote, “Why should the RCB suffer for the mismanagement of the KKR?”
The IPL has had to face criticism for going ahead with this year’s fixture even amidst a pandemic that has left tens of thousands of Indians dead. However, others argued that the sporting extravaganza has served as a much-needed distraction for some in the midst of large scale tragedy.