IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals versus Punjab Kings fixture shifted from Pune to Mumbai

The 32nd fixture of IPL 2022, set to be played between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals on April 20, has been shifted from Pune’s MCA Stadium to Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium in the wake of Covid-19 cases emerging in the Capitals’ camp, where Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh contracted with the virus after a few support staff members, including physio Patrick Farhart returned positive tests.

The development forced the team to cancel their travel to Pune for the clash against Punjab Kings as the entire squad was put in quarantine with regular Covid-19 tests being conducted. The results of a fresh round of testing conducted on April 19 (Tuesday) are awaited, however, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development in a bid to “avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment.”

Farhart was the first member to test positive, returning with that result on April 15. Only a day later, massage therapist Chetan Kumar contracted the virus, which was followed by the positive test results of Marsh, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and member of the franchise’s social media team Akash Mane, all on April 18.

It is understood that the conduction of the said fixture is subjected to the RT-PCR test results. The BCCI, in a media release, confirmed that those positive are currently being monitored and under medical supervision. “They will be tested on Day 6 and 7 and subject to both the tests being negative they will be re-integrated into the Delhi Capitals bio-secured bubble.”