8 players in contact in Krunal Pandya test negative but won’t play 2nd T20I

The second T20 International between India and Sri Lanka was scheduled for July 27 but was postponed by a day after Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive, forcing him out of the series with seven days of isolation.

However, all of the eight players who were in close contact with him were isolated and tested negative. Despite that, as a precautionary measure, they will not be taking the field on Wednesday as India might play a depleted side.

As per Sri Lanka’s health safety protocols, Krunal will not be able to travel back to India with other members of the contingent on July 30 as he will now have to undergo mandatory isolation and obtain a negative RT-PCR report.

The third and final T20 is scheduled to be held on Thursday.

“Krunal is symptomatic with cough and throat pain. He is obviously out of the series and will not be able able to return with rest of the squad,” a BCCI source tracking the developments in Colombo told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“However the good news is that all his eight close contacts who were identified by the BCCI medical officer (Dr Abhijit Salvi) have tested negative. But as a precautionary measure can’t take the field.”

For now, the three-match series is on as even if there are a couple of more cases, the Indian team has enough players with negative RT-PCR reports to field a team.

After Krunal tested positive, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that the July 27 match has been pushed forward by a day and will now take place on Wednesday, July 28.

“Following the Rapid Antigen Tests conducted ahead of the match on Tuesday morning, Krunal Pandya was found to be positive. The Medical Teams have identified eight members as close contacts,” the release had earlier stated.

However, it has been learnt from BCCI sources that all the members of the Indian contingent were put in room isolation till they received their negative RT-PCR report.