Three Under-19 cricketers test corona positive, 15 in isolation

The residential camp involving the Under-19 cricketers was on hold for the time being as two cricketers and a supporting staff showed symptoms of Covid-19. The camp was supposed to resume on Saturday or Sunday. But three cricketers have tested positive and at least 15 have shown symptoms.

Naveed Nawaz, the head coach of the Under-19 team, is one of the 15 people showing symptoms. He has isolated himself at his residence in Dhaka. The rest of them have been kept in isolation at the swimming complex in Mirpur. 

The camp was arranged keeping in mind the Under-19 Asia Cup which was scheduled in November. With the tournament getting called off, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided to cut the camp short.

But now it has to postpone the camp because it has been struck by Covid-19. With no series or tournament ahead, the BCB is not in a hurry. If everything goes according to plan, a camp involving the under-19 cricketers will begin on November 19, as informed by the BCB's game development manager Abu Imam Mohammad Kaiser.

"Some of them showed symptoms. Those who have come in contact with them have been kept in isolation. If someone shows symptoms, we take his roommates and those who've come in contact with him to isolation. So for a couple of guys, we instruct 8-10 of them to isolate themselves to ensure safety," Kaiser told The Business Standard (TBS).

Regarding the Covid-19 results, the BCB official said, "The medical committee informed that three have tested positive. We are not going to reveal their names. Others who have come in close proximity with them have been taken to isolation as well."

Khaled Mahmud Sujon, the chairman of BCB's game development, has also given the same information.

Mohammad Kaiser, when asked the reason behind the postponement of the camp, said, "The camp has been postponed mainly due to the Asia Cup being called off. If it hadn't been cancelled, we would've continued the camp without the three testing positive. Now we have decided to start a camp from November 10. It is not yet certain, but it is the tentative date."

The residential camp began on October 1 involving 28 Under-19 cricketers. With the Asia Cup being cancelled and three players becoming Covid-19 positive, the BCB has decided to discontinue the camp.