India coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for Covid 19
and is in doubt for the Asia Cup. The BCCI will wait on his condition before
deciding whether to deputize for VVS Laxman, who is scheduled to travel to
India via Dubai from Zimbabwe today, for the Asia Cup. Dravid is scheduled for
another Covid test.
"Dravid's symptoms are mild. So we will wait and decide
later whether to send VVS Laxman as his replacement or not." Laxman is
already in Harare and they were supposed to fly to Dubai today. We can ask
Laxman to stay in Dubai for a few days until Dravid's condition is clear. We
have asked Dravid to undergo another test,” said a BCCI official.
The Indian team will leave for Dubai today and the players
and support staff have been given the opportunity to fly directly from their
respective destinations. Dravid, who had to leave Bangalore, tested positive
and was put in isolation. The Indian board will not send a replacement anytime
soon and will instead wait for Dravid's recovery. By then, bowling coach Paras
Mhambrey was asked to look after the team in Dubai.
India began their Asia Cup campaign on 28 August with a
match against arch-rivals Pakistan.
In a statement, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said: "India
head coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19 in a routine test
conducted before the team left for the UAE for the 2022 Asia Cup.
Mr. Dravid is under the care of the BCCI medical team and
has mild symptoms. He will join the team if he comes back with a negative
report of COVID-19. The rest of the team will meet in the UAE on August 23,
2022.
BCCI gave Dravid a few days rest and Laxman coached the
Indian team for their tour of Zimbabwe. Rahul's support staff Vikram Rathour,
the batting coach, and Mhambrey, the bowling coach, are resting in Zimbabwe.
Laxman was assisted by former leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule and Hrishikesh
Kanitkar.
With a break during the IPL, Dravid has been on the road for
nine-and-a-half months and five series since taking over in November.