Tanvir tests positive for Covid-19

Pakistan quick Sohail Tanvir, who is a part of the Kandy Tuskers franchise, has
become the second player* to test positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Sri
Lanka for the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Ravinderpal Singh, the Canada batsman who had been picked by the Colombo
Kings franchise, had tested positive earlier in the day. The two are being treated
and isolated at a separate hotel from the remainder of the LPL’s players and
coaching staff.

Details of Tanvir’s positive result were conveyed to the Tuskers’ head coach
Hashan Tillakaratne shortly after mid-day on Friday. “We have to talk to the
franchise owners and find somebody to replace Tanvir,” Tillakaratne told
ESPNcricinfo, even though Tanvir hasn’t been ruled out of the tournament yet.

Tanvir is not believed to have come into close contact with any other player or
official, and the remainder of the Tuskers team will prepare for the tournament
as planned. Tanvir himself had been a replacement player of sorts for the
Tuskers, who had initially drafted Wahab Riaz and Liam Plunkett as the
overseas fast bowlers, before both of them withdrew from the tournament.

Earlier, Singh was confirmed to have tested positive for Covid-19 after traveling
in the same flight and bus as several other players, including Andre Russell. His
illness, too, is not believed to have had an impact on anyone else involved in
the tournament, according to LPL organisers.

“[Singh] has been sent for treatment at another hotel in the area, which has
been set up like a hospital,” said Anil Mohan, CEO of the IPG Group company,
which is organising the LPL. “He is not at the same hotel as the others, and they

are all in their bubble. The others will be training and preparing for the
tournament as usual.”

Both Tanvir and Singh’s future in the tournament is now contingent on their
recoveries, and sign-offs from the medical authorities overseeing the LPL. They
are each expected to be out for at least two weeks.

The news of the positive Covid-19 results is the latest in a tough week for the
tournament, after Chris Gayle and Lasith Malinga pulled out over the last few
days – though neither of the withdrawals is believed to be the fault of the
tournament organisers or the players’ franchises. SLC and tournament
organisers insist that the LPL is inching towards its November 26 start date,
undeterred. (ESPNCricinfo)