Shakib out of first Test with Covid

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is out of the first Test of their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting on May 15 after testing positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.

BCB physician Manzur Hossain Chowdhury confirmed Shakib testing positive for Covid-19 to The Business Post. He is currently in isolation at his home.

The Bangladesh national team started their training in Chattogram, where the first Test will be played, ahead of the Test series on Monday, but Shakib was due to join the team on Wednesday as he was in USA with his family.

Shakib landed in Bangladesh on Tuesday and was tested for Covid-19 according to the health protocols of the series ahead of him joining the team on Wednesday.

“Shakib returned to Bangladesh today (Tuesday) morning and was tested for Covid-19 following the health protocols of the series. In the evening, the reports came back with a positive result. So, he is out of the first Test,” Manzur told TBP.

Despite testing Covid-19 positive, Shakib will not miss the second Test of the series, according to the BCB physician.

“We are following the same medical protocols England are using now. Five days after testing positive for Covid-19, he will be able to join the team. So, he will be able to play the second Test,” Manzur added.

Tests were carried out for the remaining players and staff of both sides, but all came back negative.

Shakib had returned to the Test fray after missing two Test series for Bangladesh. He missed the New Zealand series earlier this year due to personal reasons, and then had to return to Bangladesh from South Africa without playing the Test series as several of his family members were ill.