Ranji Trophy 2022: 7 members of the Bengal team test COVID-19 positive

Ahead of the upcoming edition of the Ranji Trophy, the Bengal team has found themselves in a lot of strife after six of their players and one staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The six players who were reported to have contracted the coronavirus are Surajit Yadav, Sudip Chatterjee, Anustup Majumdar, Geet Puri, Pradipta Pramanik and Kazi Junaid Saifi.

Sourasish Lahiri, also a former cricketer, is the one from the coaching staff who returned a positive RT-PCR test. All the individuals were a part of an intra-squad warm-up fixture that took place at the Jadavpur University second campus ground in Salt Lake on Sunday, January 2.

As per sources, the seven infected members are currently staying in isolation. Bengal are set to start their campaign in the first-class tournament with the match against Tripura on January 13.

“The details of the strain are yet to be ascertained. They are being isolated as per protocols,” the source said, Sportskeeda reported.

Bengal are placed alongside Haryana, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tripura and Vidarbha in their group. They are also scheduled to play a warm-up game against Prithvi Shaw’s Mumbai.

Cricket Association of Bengal president Snehasish Ganguly, in the meantime, assured that the necessary precautionary measures are being taken amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Keeping in mind the current pandemic situation, the Cricket Association of Bengal had conducted RTPCR Tests of all Bengal cricketers as a safety measure,” Ganguly was quoted as saying in a statement.

“The results have come out and it has been found that certain players had tested positive. The CAB is taking all necessary precautions and actions in this regard.”

CAB to take action after Bengal players tests positive

After the recent development, the CAB decided to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday, January 4. The CAB has also put on hold a number of local tournaments in the wake of the pandemic.

“Till the time the meeting is held, keeping in mind the prevailing pandemic situation and the recent upsurge, the CAB has decided to put on hold all the local tournaments currently underway,” CAB president Avishek Dalmiya said.

“The CAB is also taking immediate steps to vaccinate the registered players who fall in the 15-18 age bracket,” he added.