News Digest: Cricket in the time of coronavirus

2022 is here but the COVID-19 pandemic pushes on. Here's our running blog on how it continues to affect the sport and the players.You can refer to our coverage from 2021 here.

Wanindu Hasaranga tests positive for Covid-19

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga tested positive for Covid-19 on February 15 (Tuesday).

The Sri Lanka spinner underwent a routine Rapid Antigen test on Tuesday and tested positive and is currently in isolation, confirmed Sri Lanka Cricket. He has been a key member of the Sri Lankan side, having picked up five wickets in the ongoing T20I series versus Australia. Sri Lanka are scheduled to play their third T20I of the five-match series against Australia today at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Sri Lanka are grappling with Covid-19 crisis as Kusal Mendis was laid low by the virus before the start of the rubber. Although he is now out of isolation and could return to the playing XI for the third game. According to a report on Cricket Australia, left-arm paceman Binura Fernando is also ill.

Saturday, February 12

Siddons tests positive for COVID-19

Jamie Siddons, Bangladesh's newly appointed batting consultant, has tested positive for COVID-19. The 57-year old, who worked as Bangladesh's head coach from 2007 to 2011, recently joined Bangladesh Cricket Board as its batting consultant. The Australian was expected to fill in as batting coach for Bangladesh during the upcoming home series against Afghanistan after the post went vacant following the departure of Ashwell Prince.

A BCB official said that he is fine in isolation and not having any symptoms at the moment, while he is expected to have a Covid-19 test again after five to seven days.

Monday, January 31

Nuwan Thushara, team trainer test positive ahead of Australia tour

Sri Lanka's Australia-bound squad member Nuwan Thushara and team trainer Dilshan Fonseka have tested positive for COVID-19 in a routine PCR testing conducted ahead of the departure on February 3.

While the pair is now in isolation, they are currently in the Bio-Secure Bubble and can link up with the squad a week later February 10 subject to clearing the subsequent COVID tests. Sri Lanka are due to play 5 T20Is in Australia, beginning February 11.

Friday, January 28

U-19 WC Plate games cancelled

Two Plate competition matches at the ICC Under-19 World Cup have been cancelled after nine Canadian players tested positive for COVID-19. The players are now isolating "where their welfare will be monitored by the event medical team," ICC said.

Consequently, Canada didn't have sufficient players to be able to field a team. Canada's plate play-off semi-final with Scotland on January 29 stands cancelled and, in accordance with the playing conditions, the latter will progress to the 13th/14th play-off due to a better net-run-rate than Canada from all matches played in the event. The 15th/16th play-off that would have featured Canada against either Uganda or PNG will also not take place now as a result.

Shahid Afridi tests positive

Quetta Gladiators allroundner Shahid Afridi will miss the first-four games of PSL after testing positive for COVID-19. The former Pakistan alllrounder has been granted permission to isolate at home. This is the second time Afridi has tested positive for the virus, the first instance being back in 2020 when he was involved in relief work during the first wave in Pakistan.

Tuesday, January 11

Washington Sundar tests positive for Covid-19

Washington Sundar has tested positive and is now a doubtful starter for the three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting January 19. The 22-year-old spinner was to travel to Cape Town along with other members of the ODI squad but it is now doubtful if he will take the flight to South Africa at all. Along with other members of the ODI squad, Sundar is believed to be in Mumbai from where the squad will fly over to South Africa on Wednesday morning.

Monday, January 10

Rajput returns positive rapid antigen test result

Zimbabwe head coach Lalchand Rajput has returned a positive result in the rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 taken by him upon their arrival in Sri Lanka. Results of the RT-PCR tests are yet to be released. Rajput is "not showing any symptoms of the coronavirus disease" and is in quarantine in Colombo. The rest of the Zimbabwe squad is off to Kandy where they will be in isolation for three days ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Sunday, January 8

Stirling, Getkate to join Ireland squad

Paul Stirling and Shane Getkate will join the Ireland squad in Jamaica after testing negative for Covid. The players were initially isolated in Florida after testing positive. Meanwhile, Simi Singh and Ben White are set to miss the entire series against West Indies after an antigen test came back with a positive result. The two players are still awaiting the results of their PCR tests.

Thursday, January 6

Another BBL fixture postponed

Friday's fixture between Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars is the latest in the long list of BBL postponements. Melbourne Stars currently have 13 positive covid cases, including their captain Glenn Maxwell. Most of them are due to be done with their isolation, subject to a negative test, but an official release stated that the league deemed it unreasonable for them to play a game in the time available right after exiting isolation. The league is yet to decide on a new date for the fixture.

Wednesday, January 5

Brisbane Heat-Sydney Sixers fixture called off

The outbreak of covid-19 in the Big Bash League surges on as the fixture between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers, to be held on January 5, has now been called off. The game was already pushed to be played on Wednesday because of a covid outbreak, but had to be called off because of 12 positive cases in the Heat squad.

Maxwell tests positive for Covid-19

Australia allrounder Glenn Maxwell has tested positive for Covid-19, the Melbourne Stars confirmed. The Stars' skipper underwent a rapid antigen test after his team's defeat to Melbourne Renegades on Monday night and returned the positive result. Maxwell is the latest to be infected with the virus in the Stars dugout where as many as 12 other players and 8 staff members have contracted it.

BCB chief selector tests positive for Covid-19

Minhajul Abedin, the former Bangladesh skipper and the current chief of the selection panel of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, has tested positive for COVID-19. "I have tested positive for corona and currently now in isolation. There is no symptom and I will again have a test after two days to see whether it is a false positive or not,'' Minhajul told Cricbuzz.