India's premier first-class domestic tournament Ranji Trophy has been brutally hit by the third wave of Covid-19. While there have been many speculations around the future of the 2022 season of Ranji Trophy, a top Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source has told Sports Tak that the tournament will go on as scheduled.
“The tournament will go on as scheduled. We are monitoring the Covid situation and have instructed all concerned association take necessary action and follow all protocols,” the source said with 10 days to go in the tournament.
Covid-19 blows Bengal camp
The fear of Ranji Trophy cancellation intensified after six members of the Bengal squad were found positive for Covid-19. The six players to have contracted the virus are namely Sudip Chatterjee, Anustup Majumdar, Kazi Junaid Saifi, Geet Puri, Pradipta Pramanik and Surajit Yadav. Assistant coach Sourasish Lahiri is a member of the coaching staff found to be infected.
All the aforementioned seven individuals were involved in an intra-squad warm-up game held at the Jadavpur University second campus ground in Salt Lake. The match was conducted on Sunday in a bid to prepare for the campaign.
Mumbai's Shivam Dube too infected
Flamboyant Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube and the team's video analyst have tested positive for COVID-19.
Sairaj Patil has been named as Dube's replacement in a 20-member Mumbai squad.
"Yes, the two have tested positive for COVID19 and Sairaj Patil has been named as Dube's replacement," a source said.
The 28-year-old Dube has played one ODI and 13 T20Is for India. He was originally named in Mumbai's squad for their matches against Maharashtra and Delhi.
The squad was picked by the senior selection committee headed by former India pacer Salil Ankola.
The 41-time Ranji Trophy champions are placed in Elite Group C and will play their league matches in Kolkata.
