CWG 2022: Pooja Vastrakar, S Meghana Test Positive For Covid-19

The Indian Women's Cricket team have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games as their star batter S Meghana and all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar have tested positive for COVID-19.

The duo hasn't jetted off to England with the rest of the team after testing positive for the virus. 

The squad picked for the Commonwealth Games trained in the National Cricket Academy (NCA), the same venue where KL Rahul, the star Indian batter tested positive for the virus and it has been speculated that both the players got infected while training in the same academy.

"Vastrakar and Meghana have tested positive for COVID-19 and it happened before departure. Both the players will remain in India," an Indian Olympic Association official told PTI.

Earlier, Sourav Ganguly, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that one member of the visiting side tested positive for the deadly virus. 

If reports are to be believed, both players can only join the team once they test negative. Considering the situation, the duo is likely to miss the opening fixture against Australia, which is set to be played in Edgbaston on July 29. 

"As per protocol, both players can only join the team once they test negative," a BCCI source added. 

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Women's cricket will feature in CWG for the first time 

Notably, this is the first time since 1998 that cricket has been included in the Commonwealth Games. Eight teams will be competing in a single round-robin format followed by the playoffs. 

The eight teams have been divided into two groups. While Group A consists of Australia, India, Pakistan, and Barbados, Group B comprises England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Team India will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy.

India's Squad For Commonwealth Games: 

Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, S. Meghana, Taniyaa Sapna Bhatia (Wk), Yastika Bhatia (Wk), Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana. 

Standby: Simran Dil Bahadur, Richa Ghosh, Poonam Yadav.