Covid-19 strikes in the Afghanistan Cricket Team squad members in Bangladesh

Eight cricketers of the Afghanistan Cricket Team and three team support staff tested positive for Covid-19 after reaching Bangladesh. However, the practice of Afghans did not stop even after 11 people from the cohort were tested Covid-19 positive. The rest of the team was practising at the Sylhet International Stadium yesterday (Tuesday).

BCB Cricket Operations Chief Jalal Yunus said the BCB would take immediate steps on any need of the visitors. However, there are no symptoms in the body of anyone who has been identified as Covid-19 positive.

The 22-member Afghanistan cricket team docked in Bangladesh on February 12, almost 10 days before the games, to adapt to the weather and conditions. Arriving in Sylhet the next day, the cricketers of the Afghan team started training after staying in isolation for a day. However, after the isolation, the visitors left the hotel and went to the field before getting the results of the Covid-19 test. 

According to the pre-announced schedule, the Afghans are scheduled to practice for a week in Sylhet, and they will play a warm-up match on February 18. After the conditioning camp, the Afghanistan cricket team will leave for Chattogram for a 3-match bilateral ODI series against Bangladesh.

The first ODI will be played on February 23, and the next two matches will be played on February 25 and 28, respectively. The two T20I matches of the tour will be held in Mirpur. The first match is scheduled to roll in the field on March 3, and the last is on March 5.

However, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan and veteran cricketer Mohammad Nabi are not in the conditioning camp in Sylhet. Rashid and Nabi are scheduled to join the team on February 20 after playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Afghan players, who are taking part in the BPL, will join the team after the tournament gets completed.