Concern over HCA league cricketer testing covid positive

Hyderabad: If reports are to be believed, then it could be spine-chilling news. Since morning there is news doing rounds in the social media that a cricketer, who played in the much-delayed A-1 Division three-day league, has tested Covid-19 positive.

Expressing his serious concern of the risk involved by conducting this tournament in a pandemic environment, a social media user said Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has gone ahead conducting leagues without following basic #covid19 protocols putting players at risk and their family members.

“One of the A Division players tested +ve after a game, and do not know how many boys are infected because there are no symptoms. Most vulnerable are their aged family members at home, who may get affected unknowingly by these players who are asymptomatic.’’

The user said it is criminal to expose innocent players to this dreadful virus. “Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) too is organising matches but in a proper bio-bubble environment. They picked 60 players based on previous year’s performance by avoiding Inter-District matches. HCA too could have done that. It appears that their priorities are different, definitely not safe cricket.’’

With the news of the new Covid-19 strain that is fast spreading, there is a very threat of the league matches coming to a screeching halt.

The league was started two weeks ago after HCA conducted Covid-19 Test to the umpires, players and scorers even HCA president Mohd Azharuddin had reservations of having any matches this year because of the pandemic. All of them tested negative. However, this latest news, if it is true, could bring a sense of nervousness and uncertainty among the players.

Although HCA secretary R Vijayanand was not available for his comments, joint secretary Naresh Sharma, in-charge of the leagues, denied any such news. “We are very careful on this aspect and we are ensuring that we conduct the leagues in Covid-19 free ambience. Till now we did not get news of any player being tested positive,’’ he said.

With Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament, scheduled to be held from January 10, the HCA will also be conducting a three-team (Azharuddin XI, Shivlal Yadav XI and Arshad Ayub XI) selection trial matches on December 25 and 26 to pick a 20-member team for the T20 tournament. Placed in Group B, Team Hyderabad has to reach Kolkata on or before January 2 for three Covid-19 tests before the tournament begins from January 10. According to HCA sources, the Covid-19 tests will be conducted to all the players during the selection trial matches.

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