Hyderabad: Indian batsman Karun Nair has recovered from coronavirus after being infected around two weeks ago, according to reports. Nair, who plays for Kings XI Punjab in Indian Premier League (IPL), is scheduled to travel with the franchise to UAE later this month for the 13th edition of the cash-rich league.
According to a website, Nair tested negative for COVID-19 on August 8 after being in self-isolation for over two weeks since being infected. The 28-year-old will have to undergo three further tests before flying to UAE, as per the guidelines issued by the BCCI to all eight teams participating in the mega-event.
Interestingly, Nair will travel with a small group from Bengaluru on a charter flight, which will pick up the rest of the team from Delhi.
Nair has till now played 14 matches for KXIP since joining the franchise in 2018. He scored 301 runs in his first season with Punjab in 13 matches, but played only one game in the whole of the 2019 edition of the tournament.
Noticeably, Nair is the only other Indian player to have scored a triple-century in Test cricket, besides former opener Virender Sehwag. He achieved the feat during the fifth Test of the series against England in 2016, when he remained unbeaten on 303.
Meanwhile, IPL 2020 is all set to get underway in the UAE from September 19. The matches will be played behind closed doors and all eight teams will be staying in a bio-secure bubble. The matches will be played across three venues in the UAE - Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
BCCI has already issued 16-page SOPs to all teams for the tournament and according to it:
- Players, support staff, team officials and owners will have to be part of a bio-secure environment.
- Team doctor will be appointed to ensure the safety of all players and support staff throughout the tournament.
- The medical team should obtain medical and travel history of each player two weeks before scheduled departure for UAE. The data will be collected via online questionnaire along with a daily temperature logging.
- The players and support staff of each team will have to return negative five times in combined tests in India and UAE before they can start training in UAE for the new season.
- Players will be tested after every 5 days during the tournament while staying in a bio-secure bubble.
- Also, all the eight teams will be allowed COVID replacements this time.
