Four Mumbai players test positive for COVID-19 ahead of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The 20-man Mumbai squad captained by Ajinkya Rahane was scheduled to depart to Guwahati to take part in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament starting from November 4. However, ahead of their departure, the team dealt with a huge blow. Four players of Mumbai’s squad tested positive for Covid-19.

All-rounder Shams Mulani, middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, leg spinner Prashant Solanki, and medium pacer-batter Sairaj Patil are the players from the team that tested positive and were sent back home from Mumbai airport.

The other players who returned with negative tests were given a green signal to board the flight. However, these four players who returned with positive tests were barred from the T2 Terminal first checkpoint where the screening of the passengers was held.

The four players will be allowed to join Mumbai’s squad after returning negative tests

The team members’ RT-PCR tests were conducted on Tuesday, October 26. According to a report in Mid-Day, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side was not in a bio-bubble. However, the necessary body temperature checks were conducted as and when the team had gathered for their practice and training sessions.

According to the protocol, the four players will be allowed to regroup with the team only when they return with negative tests. But they wouldn’t be able to join the team immediately upon their arrival. It is reported that one of the players had a slight fever a few days ago but had not shown any other symptoms of Covid 19.

The Mumbai side recently was engaged with the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos for training. To get a tad bit of a change from the routine, the side was also taken to the beach for their fitness training.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament is all set to commence from November 4 with the final scheduled for November 22. The senior selection committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association had selected the players who will represent the state in the tournament.

Here is Mumbai’s previously announced squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy:

Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Prithvi Shaw (Vice-Captain), Aditya Tare, Shivam Dube, Tushar Deshpande, Sarfaraz Khan, Prashant Solanki, Shams Mulani, Atharva Ankolekar, Dhaval Kulkarni, Hardik Tamore, Mohit Awasthi, Siddhesh Lad, Sairaj Patil, Aman Khan, Arman Jaffer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tanush Kotian, Deepak Shetty and Roystan Dias