Members of CSK squad test Covid-19 positive, entire team to quarantine

Some members of the Chennai Super Kings contingent have tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus, reports emerged on Friday (August 28). The names of the infected CSK players/staff members aren’t disclosed yet.

According to a report in the Times of India, it is understood that the members tested positive after their arrival in the UAE. This sudden development comes as a huge blow to the franchise, whose players were supposed to start training in Dubai from Friday. However, the entire team will now have to undergo a mandatory quarantine period of seven days. CSK had landed in the UAE on August 21, following a six-day conditioning camp in Chennai. They were already in the middle of a six-day quarantine period in their team hotel.

As part of the SOPs laid out by the BCCI, each franchise was supposed to take three Covid-19 tests after their arrival in the UAE and before they could start practising. The CSK team members are expecting the result of their fourth Test by Saturday.

Chennai becomes the first team in the IPL to have recorded a positive case of coronavirus. As per a tweet from ESPNCricinfo, at least 10 members of the team have been infected. One of them is an Indian player.

Just in: At least 10 members of the Chennai Super Kings squad have tested positive for Covid-19; one India player among them pic.twitter.com/765IIasSDO

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 28, 2020

The tournament is slated to begin on September 19. The BCCI is yet to release the full schedule of matches.