Delhi Capitals delay trip to Pune following further Covid-19 cases

The Capitals are due to play Punjab Kings at the Maharashtra Stadium on Wednesday, April 20

Delhi Capitals have delayed their trip to Pune for the next round of the Indian Premier League following the discovery of further Covid-19 cases within their camp.

Last week, the franchise’s physio, Patrick Farhart, tested positive for Covid-19 – the first case of the virus reported in a team bubble since the start of the 2022 IPL.

However, a source from the BCCI has told the Press Trust of India that an overseas player has returned a positive PCR test and a member of support staff is showing symptoms of Covid-19.

As a result, the entire camp has been put into isolation, with Covid-19 tests scheduled for the next few days.

^{Delhi Capitals are due to play Punjab Kings on April 20 [screengrab/BCCI]}

Delhi Capitals are due to play Punjab Kings at the Maharashtra Stadium on Wednesday, April 20.

"Delhi Capitals were supposed to travel to Pune, but the entire squad have been told to retire to their respective rooms and as per protocol PCR is being done to ascertain whether there is an outbreak in the camp or it is an isolated case like Patrick Farhart," the source said.

"All teams are staying at Conrad Hotel in Pune where BCCI has created a bio-bubble. They were supposed to travel but now it has been delayed. Obviously, all those whose results would be negative would carry on with onward journey tomorrow."

Following a steady decrease since the third wave at the start of 2022, Covid-19 once again appears to be on the rise in India, with 2,183 new cases reported in the past 24 hours.

Last year, the IPL was suspended on May 4 due to rising Covid-19 cases within the bubble before being completed in the UAE later in the year.