Two Zimbabwe-return women cricketers test Covid-19 positive

Two cricketers of the Bangladesh national women’s cricket team, which returned from Zimbabwe after taking part in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, was found Covid-19 positive.

Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the news on Monday.

“Two members of the Bangladesh Women’s Team, that has returned home from Zimbabwe recently after participating in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 qualifiers, have tested positive for Covid 19.

“The team members, who have been sharing the same room, had negative result outcome in two tests conducted in Dhaka on 01 and 03 December. However, the report from a third PCR test on 06 December has shown both to be Covid positive.

“As such, the mandatory isolation of the team, which was due to end today (Monday, 06 December 2021), has been extended as per the Covid Management Protocol of the BCB. The team members will undergo further tests and evaluation during the extended isolation,” the BCB press release read.

The women cricketers were playing in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe before it was called off midway due to the outbreak of a new Covid-19 virus variant called Omicron.

The cricketers and the staff were in isolation at a city hotel after they had arrived in Dhaka from Zimbabwe via Namibia and Oman on December 1.

Monday was supposed to be the last day of quarantine for them, but due to the fresh Covid-19 cases, all of them were sent back to quarantine.

The BCB president Nazmul Hassan was supposed to meet the cricketers, but that was also cancelled.

Bangladesh women’s team secured a place in the 2022 Women’s World Cup, which will be their first time playing a 50-over World Cup.