Bangladesh batsman Saif Hassan and trainer Nick Lee test positive for Coronavirus

Cricket is returning slowly but steadily amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. England have successfully hosted West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland and their home season is set to conclude with the series against Australia while the Indian and certain foreign are set players will be playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from September 19. Accordingly, Bangladesh are also set to return to the sport with the tour of Sri Lanka next month.

But they have been dealt with a huge blow as their Test batsman Saif Hassan and the team’s new strength and conditioning coach Nicholas (Nick) Lee have been tested positive for COVID-19. The results of the first round of tests conducted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) came on Tuesday. Both of them will now go into self-isolation until they are tested again.

Saif Hassan who made his Test debut earlier this year was one of the last few players to join the individual training at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Moreover, according to the reports in ESPNCricinfo, Nicholas Lee has tested positive for the virus twice with the latest report coming after his arrival in Dhaka.

“Our consultant for Covid-19 is reviewing Lee’s case to determine whether it is a new or previous infection before advising on the management plan,” BCB’s Sports Physician Dr Debashis Chowdhury said.

Bangladesh Test squad likely to leave for Colombo on September 27

According to earlier reports, the three-match Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, set to be played in Colombo, is set to begin on October 23. The training camp for the tour is likely to be arranged later this month. The BCB is planning to keep the players at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka and conduct the camp behind the closed doors in Mirpur.

Also, the Bangladesh Test squad and the High Performance Unit side are likely to leave for Colombo on September 27. They will have to serve the mandatory 14-day quarantine set by Sri Lankan Government for the visitors. It remains to be seen now if the BCB will make any changes in its plans after two of its members are tested positive.