ENG vs IND: BCCI may name replacements for Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav - Reports

India's campaign in Sri Lanka was hit by a COVID scare as all-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive for the virus. Meanwhile, eight close contacts were also identified and forced into isolation as a precautionary measure. The unavailability of the players meant that India were left with little resources for the remaining two T20Is in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Covid scare in Sri Lanka is likely to affect the Indian team in England as well as Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw, who were named as injury replacements for the five-match Test series against the ‘Three Lions’ ww, might not be able to board the flight to England.

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If reports are to be believed, the BCCI is considering naming further replacements of the duo. Both players are in isolation after being identified as two of the close contacts to Krunal Pandya. The players were set to board the flight to the UK after the Sri Lanka series but might not be allowed to do so due to the COVID-19 protocols in England.

A top BCCI official spoke on the possibility of naming further replacements.

“We can’t say anything with certainty at this stage. We have to observe them for next couple of days to decide – whether to announce new replacements or not," the BCCI official was quoted by InsideSports.

Both Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav were in sizzling form in the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. They were called to join the Indian team in England after Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar were ruled out due to injuries.

Even if the duo is allowed to travel to England, the players most likely won’t be available for the first two Tests. As per the COVID-19 protocols in the UK, any person who has come in contact with any positive person has to isolate for 10 days before entering in the UK. This means that Shaw and Yadav won’t be able to fly before August 7. The duo will again have to serve 10 days of quarantine in England. If both batsmen fulfill all requirements, they will link up with Virat Kohli and co. on August 22, three days before the third test.