Picture Credit: Twitter/@BCCIWomen
The Indian women’s cricket team bound to fly for Birmingham Games have been dealt with a major blow as one of the members of the team has tested positive for COVID-19 before boarding the flight to the UK. It is not yet clear if it’s a player or someone in the support staff who has returned with a positive report. Notably, the Indian women’s team is all set to make their maiden appearance at the Games starting July 28.
Reports have emerged that a member of the Indian women's cricket team tested positive for the virus before all the members could board the flight to Birmingham. Notably, India is set to play its first match at the 2022 Commonwealth games against Australia on 29 July. The women’s cricket T20 competition will be held at the Edgbaston Stadium from July 29, with the bronze and gold medal matches taking place on August 7.
This will be the first time that Women’s T20 International will be featured in the prestigious multi-sport event. India is placed in Group A along with Australia, Barbados, and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, and South Africa are placed in Group B. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team will next face arch-rivals Pakistan on July 31. In the third group match, India will take on Barbados on August 3.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced an 18-member squad for the Games with Harmanpreet Kaur chosen as the captain of the side. Smriti Mandhana is set to be her deputy for the CWG 2022.
Team India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), 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.