IPL 2021: Delhi Capital’s Axar Patel Tests Positive For COVID-19 Ahead Of The Tournament
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders' Nitish Rana had also tested positive, but returned a negative test earlier this week.
After several groundstaff members at the Wankhede Stadium tested positive for COVID-19, Delhi Capitals (DC) all-rounder Axar Patel has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League.
Patel is the second IPL player to have returned a positive report after Nitish Rana. The left-handed Kolkata Knight Riders batsman had initially tested positive for COVID-19 but later returned with a negative report.
“Delhi Capitals all-rounder Axar Patel has tested positive for COVID-19. He had checked into the team hotel in Mumbai on March 28, 2021, with a negative report. His report from the second COVID test, came positive,” the franchise said in a statement.
“He is currently in isolation at a designated medical care facility. The Delhi Capitals medical team is in constant touch with Axar and ensuring his safety and well-being. We wish him a speedy recovery.”
The BCCI SOP says a player who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate in the designated area outside the bio-secure environment for a minimum of 10 days from the first day of symptoms or the date of collection of the sample which resulted in a positive RT-PCR report, whichever is earlier.
“During the 10-day isolation, the individual must rest and avoid any exercises. The team doctor should regularly monitor the case. If symptoms worsen during the course of isolation, the individual must be hospitalised immediately,” the SOP states.
The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League, IPL 2021 is all set to kickstart from April 9 this year. The first match of the tournament will take place between defending champions, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. All the games will be played behind closed doors.
Any guarantee on the availability of fans in the stadium will be taken at a later stage in the tournament. The afternoon games will start at 03:30 pm while the evening games will begin at 07:30 pm.
