Mike Hussey, the batting coach of Chennai Super Kings, has tested positive for Covid19 and will have to stay back in India longer than his compatriots and other overseas participants of the postponed IPL 2021 season.
Mike Hussey tests Positive for COVID19
The 45-year-old former Australian cricketer is among three members from the CSK camp to have been infected by the virus. CSK bowling coach Laxmipathy Balaji and a bus cleaner also tested positive for COVID19.
The news of Hussey’s positive test result came just hours after BCCI indefinitely suspended the IPL 2021 but CSK conducted another test to confirm the results.
“We’ve spoken to Mike today. He is in good spirits,” Todd Greenberg, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, said. “His symptoms are relatively mild. He is in a stint of isolation in his hotel room…he has good support systems around him.”
Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley on Wednesday said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India is working to arrange a charter flight for the Australian contingent, who are likely to stay in the Maldives or Sri Lanka before heading back home because of a travel ban on the Covid-19-hit India.
The nearly 40-strong Australian contingent, comprising players, support staff, and commentators, were in the country for the Indian Premier League and could be flown to the Maldives or Sri Lanka before getting a connecting flight for home.
Hussey is the 7th person associated with the tournament to have contracted the virus during IPL 2021.
Apart from the Super Kings, there have been positive tests from at least three other franchises. From the Kolkata Knight Riders, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and seam bowler Sandeep Warrier tested positive, forcing their match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 3 to be rescheduled.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and the Delhi Capitals’ legspinner Amit Mishra also tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.
