Ahead of the Ranji Trophy, seven members of the Bengal team have tested positive for COVID-19.

Sportstar understands that six cricketers – Sudip Chatterjee, Anustup Majumdar, Kazi Junaid Saifi, Geet Puri, Pradipta Pramanik, Surajit Yadav – and assistant coach Sourasish Lahiri have contracted the virus and are currently in isolation. 

“Most of them played in the preparatory game and the moment the reports returned positive, they have gone into isolation. All of them are asymptomatic,” a source in the Cricket Association of Bengal said.

“Keeping in mind the current pandemic situation, the Cricket Association of Bengal had conducted RTPCR Tests of all Bengal cricketers as a safety measure. The results have come out and it has been found that certain players had tested positive. The CAB is taking all necessary precautions and actions in this regard,” CAB secretary Snehasish Ganguly said.

While the other players have tested negative, this is certainly a blow for the team ahead of the Ranji Trophy, which begins on January 13.

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Bengal is placed in Group B, along with Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Kerala, Haryana and Tripura. The team will play its matches in Bengaluru.

The state association has also convened an Emergency Apex Council on Tuesday, January 4, to review the current COVID-19 situation and will take necessary decisions about conducting local tournaments (First Division, Second Division and District tournaments).

The CAB has decided to put on hold, all local tournaments currently underway, till the Emergency Apex Council meeting is held. The association will continue to monitor the ‘situation closely and will take appropriate decisions from time to time.’