The women’s cricket team of India has suffered a fresh blow ahead of their campaign opener against Australia at the Commonwealth Games 2022 Two star players of the Indian team have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 in the build-up to the upcoming edition of the Commonwealth Games. The next edition of the Games will be hosted by Birmingham. As per the latest developments, the Indian squad has departed for Birmingham without the two players, who have contracted the virus.
Led by star batter Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team left for Birmingham to take part in the Commonwealth Games 2022 last week. Members of the Indian women’s team and support staff received a grand welcome before they boarded the flight on Sunday from Bengaluru. Women’s cricket will make its debut in the upcoming edition of the Commonwealth Games.
According to a report filed by news agency PTI, the women’s team is set to miss the services of two key members in their campaign opener against Australia. “A second player has tested positive for COVID-19 and it happened before departure. Both the players remain in India,” an Indian Olympic Association official told the news agency on Tuesday. As per a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source, both players can only join the team once they test negative for COVID-19.
Earlier, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had revealed that a member of the women’s team tested positive for the deadly disease. After taking on Australia in their Commonwealth Games opener, India will meet arch-rivals Pakistan on July 31. India’s final league match will be against Barbados on August 3. All of the cricket matches, including the summit clash will be contested at Edgbaston. According to the organisers, the tickets for semi-finals and final are already sold out.
