England cricketer Moeen Ali has tested Covid-19 positive on arrival in Sri Lanka. He has tested positive at Hambantota Airport on arrival and will undergo a self-isolation for ten days.
England cricket team have got exemptions as they are the only one to travel outside the United Kingdom when the outside world has isolated them for the emergence of a new variant of Covid-19.
Moeen Ali Tested COVID-19 Positive
“Following PCR tests administered on arrival at the airport in Hambantota on Sunday 3rd January, The England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that Moeen Ali has tested positive for COVID-19,” the ECB said in a release.
The ECB, in its media release, said Moeen Ali will now isolate himself for 10 days as per Covid protocols laid out by the Sri Lankan government.
Chris Woakes too Isolated
Apart from Ali, one more England player Chris Woakes has been deemed to be a possible close contact and will also observe self-isolation till further testing.
“Ali will now observe a period of 10-days self-isolation, in accordance with the Sri Lanka Government’s protocol on quarantine,” the ECB said in its release.
“Chris Woakes has been deemed as a possible close contact, and he will observe a period of self-isolation and further testing,” it added.
“The touring party will be PCR tested for a second time on Tuesday morning. At this stage, the team will train for the first time on Wednesday,” the ECB stated in its release.
Moeen’s management company released a series of tweets shortly after the ECB’s announcement which said “Moeen is well and has taken all the relevant precautions but it just goes to show that this virus can strike at any time”.
Ali’s Replacement
Moeen’s likely absence for the first Test leaves England with just two spinners, Dom Bess and Jack Leach, in their squad. They may consider calling up Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson or Amar Virdi from the reserve list to compensate. Woakes may also miss out on the first Test although England have sufficient fast-bowling cover in the squad.
Also read: Joe Root Gives Option to His Teammates to Skip Sri Lanka Test Tour
