Covid-19: Bangladesh U-19 player Iftekhar Hossain tests positive

Bangladesh U-19 player Iftekhar Hossain has tested positive for Covid-19 during the second batch of tests at the Shere Bangla National Stadium's academy building on Monday. Hossain was among the 15 cricketers who were tested for the virus ahead of their month-long training camp in BKSP which begins on August 23.

The first batch, tested on August 16, were all negative, while Hossain was the only one among the second batch to test positive. MA Kayser, BCB's game development manager, said that Hossain has been kept in isolation in his room at the academy.

"We have had one positive case, and his name is Iftekhar Hossain," Kaysar told Cricday. "He will now be in isolation under the BCB's medical protocol. He is healthy but he is being closely monitored. We will provide him with everything during his isolation and the next course of action will be decided by the BCB's medical team.

"The first batch of 15 players arrived at the academy on August 15, were tested the following day, and when all were found negative, were sent to BKSP, the sports institute situated 36km from Mirpur. The same plan was followed for the second batch, except Hossain, while the third batch will be tested on Thursday."

Since July 19, several of Bangladesh's senior cricketers have been training at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, utilising the academy ground and indoor facilities. The BCB has generally discouraged any such activities due to the country's delicate Covid-19 situation, but earlier this week, Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman joined training in Mirpur.