After Mitchell Marsh, New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert has become the 2nd Delhi Capitals player to test positive for Covid-19, hours before DC’s scheduled match against Punjab Kings later in the evening, as per PTI. Seifert had trained with the team yesterday.
An Indian Express report states that Seifert has tested positive for Covid-19 after a Rapid Antigen Test conducted on Wednesday afternoon and the rest of the players who are scheduled to play the PBKS game will be tested again. The match is likely to go ahead match will be played with those players whose test reports return negative.
IPL 2022 – FULL COVERAGE | SCHEDULE | RESULTS | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAP | POINTS TABLE
The positive case emerged after a fresh round of testing conducted on Wednesday morning, according to a BCCI source as per PTI. “As far as we know, Tim Seifert of New Zealand has tested positive," said a BCCI source.
“We were tested in the morning and we will be tested again shortly. We continue to be isolated," said a player on the condition of anonymity.
Australian all-rounder Marsh had to be hospitalised after testing positive for COVID last week, taking the total count to five cases in the Capitals’ camp. To ensure no other case goes undetected in the bio-bubble, the BCCI had decided move the game from Pune to Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
As per the BCCI’s testing protocols, every member of an IPL squad in a team bubble is tested every fifth day unlike last season when it was done every third day. However, if the franchise on its own wants the members to be tested, they are more than welcome.
As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak. There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.
Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.
Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.
With COVID cases rising outside the IPL bio-bubble, the virus threat inside the controlled environment has also increased. Last season, the tournament had to be suspended midway due to the second wave. It was resumed and completed in the UAE in September-October.
Get all the latest updates on Cricket News, Cricket Photos, Cricket Videos, IPL 2022 Live Updates and Cricket Scores here