Team India head coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Asia Cup 2022, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday. This will delay his travel to UAE for the upcoming tournament.
“Team India Head Coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19 in a routine test conducted ahead of the team’s departure to the UAE for Asia Cup 2022. Dravid is under the supervision of the BCCI Medical team and has mild symptoms. He will join the team once he returns with a nagative COVID-19 report. The rest of the team will assemble in UAE on 23rd August, 2022,” BCCI stated in an official release.
Notably, Dravid had not travelled with the team to Zimbabwe for the three-match ODI series. The series concluded on Monday with the Men in Blue white-washing the host 3-0.
The assistant coach Paras Mhambrey will be in charge of the team but the decision of NCA head VVS Laxman to join the team will be taken later on today.
“We haven’t taken a call on whether VVS will be going to Dubai from Harare or not. A call will be taken accordingly and if required, he will join. Till then Paras Mhambrey will be in-charge. All other members are fit and left for UAE early in the day,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
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In Asia Cup’s first match, the arch-rivals of the sport, India and Pakistan will clash against each other on August 28. India will look to avenge the 2021 T20 World Cup defeat where Pakistan smacked them by 10 wickets.
Majority of the members will left Mumbai on Tuesday but vice-captain KL Rahul, Deepak Hooda and reserve player Axar Patel will join the team from Harare.
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