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T Natarajan ( Image Credit: Twitter)
The COVID-19 has breached the IPL bio bubble in UAE as Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer T Natarajan has tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, six contacts, one player and five support staff members have been identified and put into isolation. The RT PCR tests of other members of the squad were conducted and all have returned negative results. As a result the match between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad will go ahead as per the schedule.
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“The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests at 5AM local time this morning and the test reports are negative. As a result, tonight’s game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals will go ahead at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai,” the IPL Press Release read.
The IPL was postponed in May after several played tested positive for COVID-19. The BCCI was keen to finish the tournament as they would have suffered huge financial losses. Given the COVID-19 situation in India, they moved the tournament to UAE, where IPL 2020 was also held. However, the news of Natarajan testing positive is the worst they could have expected.
The BCCI will be hoping that Natarajan testing positive is a rare case and there are no more cases, as if the number of positive people increases, the IPL 2021 could well be cancelled as BCCI don't have any window now to reschedule the matches.
Not only IPL but T20 World Cup could also be put in jeopardy. Meanwhile, it is not clear how Natarajan tested positive for COVID-19 as UAE has a very secure bio-bubble. Natarajan was set to make a comeback for SRH, having missed out in the first leg due to an injury.
Recently, the fifth Test between England and India was called off after India coach Ravi Shastri and few members of the support staff tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier, Krunal Pandya also tested positive on the tour of Sri Lanka. The players testing positive inside the bubble raise concerns on the safety of the bubble and it’s a matter that the cricket boards and ICC need to investigate.