India international S. Meghana, who was down with COVID -19, left for Birmingham on Thursday and is expected to join the Indian women’s cricket team ahead of its Commonwealth Games opener against Australia on Friday. All-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, who also tested positive before the team’s departure last week, however, is still under quarantine in Bengaluru.
Even though Meghana is expected to enter the Games Village by Thursday night, the team management is unlikely to consider her for selection for the tournament opener.
While the Indian team had left for Commonwealth Games last week, Meghana and Pooja had to stay back in India after both tested positive for COVID-19.
After completing her isolation, Meghana took a flight to Birmingham on Thursday and even posted a picture of the boarding pass on her social media handles. Pooja’s travel to Birmingham depends on her COVID-19 recovery and passing a mandatory fitness test.
With the strength of the squad capped at 15 members, India has not been able to fly out the reserves to the United Kingdom, but Poonam Yadav, Simran Dil Bahadur and Richa Ghosh are currently in Bengaluru and will fly out if needed. Sources in the BCCI believe that if Pooja recovers in time, she could fly out by Sunday or Monday. “The medical team is monitoring the situation and a decision will be taken depending on her health condition,” a source in the BCCI said.
Last week, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had stated that one COVID-19 case was reported within the Indian camp in Bengaluru, without revealing the identity of the player. On the eve of the CWG opening fixture against Australia, the IOA media attache informed the media that it will soon release an update on the two cricketers.
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