Dubai, Aug 28: Head coach Rahul Dravid has tested negative for COVID-19 and has joined the Indian team ahead of its much-awaited Asia Cup opener against Pakistan here on Sunday.
Batting great Dravid, who had tested positive for the virus ahead of the team’s departure for the continental tournament in a routine test, has fully recovered from the condition.
“Team India Head Coach Rahul Dravid has tested negative for COVID-19 and has joined the team in Dubai. Interim coach, Mr VVS Laxman who was present with the team in Mr. Dravid’s absence, has returned to Bengaluru to oversee the India A programme,” the BCCI said in a statement.
The former India skipper did not travel with the team after testing positive, forcing the board to name NCA head VVS Laxman as India’s interim coach.
Laxman was also the coach of the Indian team during the recent Zimbabwe tour.
Since returning positive in the test conducted on August 23, Dravid had been undergoing home isolation.
Earlier, BCCI secretary Jay Shah released a statement where he stated that the Indian head coach had mild symptoms.
“Team India Head Coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19 in a routine test conducted ahead of the team’s departure to the UAE for Asia Cup 2022.
“Dravid is under the supervision of the BCCI Medical team and has mild symptoms. He will join the team once he returns with a negative COVID-19 report,” Shah had said in a release. (PTI)
