Mansi Joshi tested positive for COVID-19; to miss Women’s T20 Challenge

Indian pacer Mansi Joshi has been ruled out of the Women’s T20 Challenge this year after testing positive for COVID-19.

Apparently, the 27-year old pacer, who has played 11 ODIs and 8 T20Is since her International debut in 2016, had tested positive for the virus in her hometown, Dehradun and had not travelled to Mumbai to join the bubble for the tournament.

According to BCCI officials, Joshi, who was picked in the Velocity squad led by Mithali Raj, is asymptomatic and currently under self-isolation at home for at least the next week or so. Uncapped Uttar Pradesh medium-pacer Meghna Singh has been called up as her replacement. 

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The three teams will be featuring in a tournament, which will be played in Sharjah from November 4-9. As part of the bio-bubble, the Indian players are currently under quarantine for nine days at a five-star hotel in Mumbai, which is closer to the international airport. Once all the reports come negative, the players will be allowed to fly out, and upon arrival in the UAE, they will be under another round of quarantine before starting their training sessions.

The Indian women cricketers have not played any forms of cricket since March and this will be the first tournament since the lockdown. “The players were training at their respective states and once they reach the UAE, there will be enough training sessions for them,” a senior Board official said.