BPL 2022: Nural Hasan, Soumya Sarkar among few players to test positive for COVID-19

The Bangladesh Premier League 2022 got underway yesterday (January 21) with an entertaining first day but at the cost of 6 players testing positive for COVID-19. The Chattogram Challengers and the Fortune Barishal took on each other in the first game of the season and wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan who was part of the Barishal franchise tested positive ahead of the game.

However, Nurul’s tests have produced indefinite results so far as he tested positive on Jan 17 but was tested negative in his second result. He will have to undergo another test on Jan 22 before moving into the camp.

Two other members of the franchise, batter Munim Shahriar and batting coach Nazmul Abedin Fahim had also tested positive ahead of the tournament and the tally has caused concerns. Also, Bangladesh all-rounder Soumya Sarkar has also been added to the list of positive cases in the Khulna camp and none of them has taken the field so far in the ongoing BPL 2022.

Plans will change if there is some kind of problem, says official

An official from the Fortune Barishal noted the confusing results of Nurul Hasan so far and mentioned that he will be assessed after a test on Saturday. Despite Nurul’s absence, the Fortune Barishal side won their first game against the Chattogram Challengers by 4 wickets today.

”Nurul tested positive in the first test on January 17 and then tested negative in the second test. now we are waiting for another negative (result) to allow him join our squad. The test will be done tomorrow (January 22),” the Barishal official told Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile, the BPL governing council member secretary Ismail Haider initiated discussions of changing the venues of the tournament according to the COVID-19 situation.

“It’s difficult to play continuously so either we have to give four to five days rest or take the game to another venue. Till now we have selected Chattogram and Sylhet as the other two venues and if there are no big hiccups then we will play there. But if there is some kind of problem, naturally we will change our plan. We will talk with the shareholders and take necessary measures,” Ismail said.