India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant recently tested positive for COVID-19 due to which he was sent into isolation and did not travel with the team to Durham where the Indian team regrouped for the upcoming first practice game against Select County XI.

Further adding to the Indian team’s headache, their throwdown specialist Dayanand Garani has also contracted the virus which has resulted in three more players who were ‘close contacts’ going in isolation.

The five-match Test series between India and England has not even started yet but the situation has gotten quite chaotic at the moment. Despite such a situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ruled out sending any replacements or backup to England, if reports are to be believed.

Earlier it was Shubman Gill who got injured, which created a demand for replacement in the Indian team, as the team management wanted at least one of Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal to take Gill’s place.

ENG v IND 2021: BCCI releases statement after Rishabh Pant, Dayanand Garani test COVID-19 positive

The selectors, however, refused the request asking the team to make use of the players they have.

With COVID-19 cases rising in England and ECB deciding to do away with the strict bio-bubble protocols for the series, there are fears that more positive cases could be on the way. Despite the situation, COVID-19 isn't a topic that BCCI is willing to entertain at present.

When approached by The Indian Express, the BCCI ruled out the possibility of sending a replacement player to England after Pant was confirmed to have tested positive for the virus.

The selection committee is said to have picked a 20-member squad for the England tour as well as four standby players keeping in mind the challenges that may arise in the UK, including COVID-19. The board feels there are enough backups available in all departments and, hence, the need for replacements shouldn't arise.

(With The Indian Express Inputs)