Michael Vaughan confident IPL will go on after SRHs T Natarajan contracts COVID

Michael Vaughan has had his say over the latest happenings in the Indian Premier League taking place in the United Arab Emirates, where Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pacer T Natarajan tested positive for COVID-19. 

The 30-year-old left-arm paceman, who is currently asymptomatic, isolated himself from the rest of the squad after a scheduled RT-PCR test returned positive on Wednesday.

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Six people were identified to have been in close contact with Natarajan by the medical team and have also been placed in isolation.

All-rounder Vijay Shankar, team manager Vijay Kumar, physiotherapist Shyam Sundar J, doctor Anjana Vannan, logistics manager Tushar Khedkar and net bowler Periyasamy Ganesa were all identified as close contacts.

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Former English cricketer Michael Vaughan compared the recent COVID-19 situation in the IPL with the fifth Test between England and India scheduled to be played at Manchester being called off after multiple COVID-19 cases were identified in the Indian team camp.

“Let’s see if the IPL gets cancelled like the last Test !!!!! I guarantee it won’t be … #OnOn,” said Vaughan.

Leading up to the fifth Test between India and England, coach Ravi Shastri along with other coaching staff and physio tested COVID positive after the third Test and the assistant physio contracted the virus after the fourth Test, which led to the visitors postponing the fifth game.

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Latest update on the second phase of the IPL 2021, more specifically on the game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, is that the match remains on schedule.

As per the statement issued by the IPL, the rest of the contingent and all the players who came in close contact with Natarajan were tested negative after an RT-PCR test and thus, the match will go on.

“The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests at 5 am local time this morning and the test reports are negative. As a result, tonight’s game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals will go ahead at the Dubai International Stadium, Dubai,” said the statement.