Second UAE-Ireland ODI postponed after player tests Covid positive

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Alishan Sharafu has tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. — Twitter
Alishan Sharafu has tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. — Twitter

Dubai - The tests that were carried out on December 29 and all were negative

By Team KT

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Published: Sat 9 Jan 2021, 9:32 PM

Last updated: Sun 10 Jan 2021, 8:57 AM

Emirates Cricket Board confirms that UAE player, Alishan Sharafu, has tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday.

After this incident, Emirates Cricket Board management, in consultation with Abu Dhabi Cricket, and with the agreement of Cricket Ireland, have taken the decision that in the best interests of all players and support staff involved with the Sky247.net Abu Dhabi ODI series, the second ODI scheduled for January 10 is to be rescheduled for January 16.


Subhan Ahmed, Emirates Cricket Board advisor, provided clarity on the situation: “As part of our Covid-19 safety protocols for this series, all players were required to undergo and provide a negative Covid-19 test prior to entering the bio-bubble in Abu Dhabi.

The tests that were carried out on December 29 and all were negative. Players were then isolated in their separate rooms (in the team hotel) for three days. On January 7, Chirag Suri tested positive, followed by Aryan Lakra on January 8.


Both Chirag and Aryan were isolated in their hotel rooms immediately after testing positive. As all remaining tests were negative, and after the tracing app data was reviewed, no further close contacts were traced.

In accordance with the authorities’ directives, the isolated players remained in their rooms until the health authorities coordinated their move to an official isolation centre.

In the early hours of January 9, and following a seventh test carried out on January 8 on all players and staff in the UAE team bubble, Alishan Sharafu’s test also came back positive. Alishan is currently in isolation awaiting transfer by the health authorities to a medical isolation facility.

The amended series itinerary is as follows:

12th January 2nd ODI

14th January 3rd ODI

16th January 4th ODI


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