The Afghanistan tour of Bangladesh has hit a roadblock as several members of the touring party were tested positive for Covid-19. The whole Afghan squad, who are currently training in Sylhet ahead of the limited overs series against Bangladesh, have been put into 48-hour isolation.
“Apart from the eight cricketers, three members of the support staff of the touring party also tested positive,”
a report in ‘The Daily Star’ stated.
The isolation ends on Wednesday, after which they will go through another round of fresh tests. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has extended all the support to the team, although technically, the tour has not started yet. The Afghanistan squad, comprising 22 members, has been in Sylhet for training since February 12 on their own.
“They are not under our protocols considering the series will start from February 19. But whatever support they will want now, we will provide that.
If the symptoms are mild, then they will be in isolation and if that is not the case, we will have to transfer them to a hospital. But at the moment, they are looking after their own well-being,”
a BCB official was quoted as per Cricbuzz.
After completing their week-long training camp in Sylhet, Afghanistan will move to Chattogram where the three ODIs will be played on February 23, 25 and 28 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The two teams will then take on each other in two T20I matches in Dhaka on March 3 and 5.
Afghanistan’s star players Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, who are currently in Lahore for the ongoing Pakistan Super League, are expected to join the team ahead of the one-day series.
The three-match ODI will count towards the CWC Super League for the direct qualification in the next ODI world event. Bangladesh are sitting strong on the points table with 80 points from 12 matches, having won eight and lost four. Afghanistan are placed sixth on the table, having won all of their six matches so far.
