The preparations of Mumbai and Bengal teams ahead of the start of the Ranji Trophy 2022 seasons have hit a huge roadblock after several members of either team tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Seven members of the Bengal Ranji Trophy team have tested positive for COVID-19, throwing their preparation in frenzy, days before they start their campaign. Placed in Group B, along with Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Kerala, Haryana, and Tripura, Bengal is slated to kick off their campaign against Tripura in Bengaluru from January 13.
"Keeping in mind the current pandemic situation, the Cricket Association of Bengal had conducted RTPCR Tests of all Bengal cricketers as a safety measure. The results have come out and it has been found that certain players had tested positive. The CAB is taking all necessary precautions and actions in this regard." According to sources, six Bengal players -- Sudip Chatterjee, Anustup Majumdar, Kazi Junaid Saifi, Geet Puri, Pradipta Pramanik, and Surajit Yadav- and assistant coach Sourasish Lahiri were infected with the virus,” CAB secretary Snehasish Ganguly said in a statement late on Sunday evening.
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This means that their two-day warm-up game against the Prithvi Shaw-led Mumbai from Tuesday at the CCFC stands canceled.
The CAB has also decided to put on hold all local tournaments that were presently underway and have called for an emergency apex council meeting on Tuesday to review the current COVID-19 situation.
"Till the time the meeting is held, keeping in mind the prevailing pandemic situation and the recent upsurge, the CAB has decided to put on hold all the local tournaments currently underway. The CAB is also taking immediate steps to vaccinate the registered players who fall in the 15-18 age bracket,” CAB president Avishek Dalmiya stated in a joint statement.
On the other hand, Mumbai, who were due to play a warmup match against Bengal are dealing with their own COVID-19 outbreak after all-rounder Shivam Dube and the team's video analyst tested positive for the virus.
Sairaj Patil has been named as Dube's replacement in a 20-member Mumbai squad.
"Yes, the two have tested positive for COVID19 and Sairaj Patil has been named as Dube's replacement," a source told PTI on Monday.
Dube was named in the Mumbai squad for matches against Maharashtra and Delhi, with the 41-time Ranji Trophy winners being placed in Elite Group C and will play their league matches in Kolkata.
(PTI inputs)
