Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, tested positive for COVID-19 and did not accompany the Rohit Sharma-led team to Dubai for the Asia Cup, which begins on August 27.

On August 28, India will face archrival Pakistan in their first game.

“Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in isolation. We are still hopeful that he will recover soon and might join the team in due course,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on the conditions of anonymity.

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It is anticipated that assistant coach Paras Mhambrey will be in command of the team for the time being, but a decision on whether NCA head VVS Laxman will join the team in Dubai will be made later on Tuesday.

“We haven’t taken a call on whether VVS will be going to Dubai from Harare or not. A call will be taken accordingly and if required, he will join. Till then Paras Mhambrey will be in-charge. All other members are fit and left for UAE early in the day,” he also confirmed.

While majority of the members of the team left from Mumbai on Tuesday morning, vice-captain KL Rahul, Deepak Hooda and reserve player Axar Patel will travel from Harare, having finished their Zimbabwe assignment.

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India and Pakistan both gained significant confidence boosts ahead of the Asia Cup 2022, though in different styles. After impressive series wins over Zimbabwe and the Netherlands, both Asian nations have reduced the distance between top-ranked New Zealand and England.

India and Pakistan won significant rating points in the current ICC ODI rankings, which were revealed on Tuesday. After beating Zimbabwe 3-0, India increased their ODI ranking to 111 rating points and moved up to third overall, while Pakistan moved up to fourth with 107 rating points.