Impossible To Wear Mask All The Time - Sourav Ganguly Defends Rishabh Pant 

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly has come out in defence of youngster Rishabh Pant, who has been receiving flak on social media for not being careful following his positive covid-19 test result.

Rishabh Pant was the first member of the Indian contingent to return a positive test for the virus on 8th July; he has been placed in quarantine since.

The swashbuckling left-hander had gone to watch a Euro 2020 football game at a packed Wembley Stadium. He clicked few pictures with his friends and posted them on social media.

It is to be noted that the entire Team India was on a three-week break after the WTC final loss against New Zealand last month.

Sourav Ganguly now has said that it wouldn’t have been possible for players to keep their masks on all the time, especially when the UK government themselves have lifted the strict covid-19 protocols.

“We have seen Euro Championship and Wimbledon in England. Rules have changed (with crowd being allowed inside venues). They were on leave and it’s physically impossible to wear mask all the time,” the BCCI President told News18.com.

When asked if there is any worry after more than one member tested positive. The former India captain promptly replied: “No worries. They will be fine.”

BCCI’s update on covid in Indian camp:

The BCCI, on Thursday, confirmed that not only Pant but also training assistant Dayanand Garani had tested positive for the virus.

While the wicket-keeper is close to completing his quarantine, and would also be able to join the rest of the squad in Durham after returning two negative RT-PCR tests, Garani is placed in isolation. Not only that, three more members of the squad, bowling coach, B. Arun, Wriddhiman Saha, and Abhimanyu Easwaran were in close contact with Garani, and they all have been also subjected to 10-day quarantine since 14th July, when Garani tested positive following RT-PCR tests.

“The entire Indian contingent including travelling family members and caretakers were administered with the second dose of covid vaccine earlier this month in London. To mitigate any further risks, the Indian contingent is taking the Lateral Flow Test on a daily basis,” BCCI added in a statement. 

Virat Kohli’s side will begin their preparations for the upcoming 5-match Test series against England, starting August 4, with a three-day warm-up match at Emirates Riverside against County XI starting on July 20th.

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