India’s head coach Rahul Dravid tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and he might miss on the first few games of the Asia Cup 2022 which starts six days later. Dravid has not flown to the UAE and thus India will be needing a replacement for an interim period. It’s reported that VVS Laxman , who has worked with the Indian team on tours Dravid has not traveled with the team, can be appointed as India’s head coach.
Laxman, who is also the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), traveled with the Indian squad to Zimbabwe where the Men in Blue played three ODIs. Laxman and his NCA support staff assisted captain KL Rahul in Dravid’s absence. Now, as India have successfully completed a 3-0 clean sweep over Zimbabwe and the squad is still in Harare, Laxman may be asked to travel to Dubai for the Asia Cup.
“Dravid’s symptoms are mild. So, we will wait and decide later whether we need to send VVS Laxman as his replacement or not. Laxman is already in Harare and they are supposed to take a flight to Dubai today. We can ask Laxman to stay back for a few days in Dubai until Dravid’s situation gets clear. We have asked Dravid to undergo another test,” a BCCI official was quoted saying by the Indian Express.
Notably, the Asia Cup-bound players and support staff were given the option of flying straight from their respective destinations. Dravid, who was supposed to depart from Bangalore, tested positive and has been under isolation. He will undergo another test and then the BCCI will take any action. The Indian board is not sending any replacement soon and instead will wait for Dravid’s recovery. In the meantime, the bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has been asked to look after the team in Dubai.
India will start their campaign on 28 August against arch-rivals Pakistan.
