Ricky Ponting, the Delhi Capitals head coach, will isolate in his hotel room for five days after a family member tested positive for Covid-19. He will therefore not be present at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium for Capitals’ match against Rajasthan Royals later today.
Ponting has twice tested negative since his family member’s positive test, but a statement from the franchise said that “in the best interest of the team, the management and medical team has decided that he will remain in isolation for five days”.
Though none of the other teams have had any positive Covid-19 cases since the start of the tournament on March 26, the Capitals have had a number of positive results. On Wednesday, Tim Seifert, the New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter, became the sixth member of the Capitals contingent to test positive after Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh, physio Patrick Farhart, sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar, team doctor Abhijit Salvi, and social media content team member Akash Mane.
Their previous fixture was moved from Pune to Mumbai, where the teams are based, to avoid inter-city travel, and during that game, against Punjab Kings, none of the Capitals players shook hands with the opposition after the game. Ponting and other members of the coaching staff were spotted wearing masks in the dugout. The Friday fixture against Royals, too, was shifted from Pune to Mumbai.
More to follow…
Source: ESPN Crickinfo