In a worrying development for the ongoing IPL in the UAE, pace bowler T. Natarajan of Sunrisers Hyderabad tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are scheduled to play Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. According to reports, Natarajan, who is asymptomatic, has been isolated from the rest of the squad.
Another player, all-rounder Vijay Shankar, and five members of the support staff (team manager Vijay Kumar, physiotherapist Shyam Sumdar J., doctor Anjana Vannan, logistics manager Tushar Khedkar and net bowler Periyasamy Ganesan) were identified as his close contacts and isolated.
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An official IPL communication informed, "The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests at 5AM local time this morning and the test reports are negative. As a result, tonight's game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals will go ahead at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai."
In early May, the IPL was disrupted by a number of players getting infected, leading to the tournament being postponed and subsequently being shifted to the UAE.