Kamil Mishara tests positive ahead of the Zimbabwe ODI series

Uncapped Kamil Mishara was the latest Sri Lanka cricketer to test positive for Covid-19, while a support staff member of the Zimbabwe camp was also confirmed to be infected.

Mishara is the fifth in Sri Lanka’s contingent to test positive in the last week, with Zimbabwe coach Lalchand Rajput testing positive on arrival to the country. 

Mishara had tested negative in the first round of testing last week, when the squad was assembled, but tested positive yesterday, and again in a subsequent test. 

"When a player is first tested the viral load may not be high enough to produce a positive PCR. After going into the bubble he can then test positive as the virus continues to multiply to reach a high value to be detected,” Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the Chairman of the medical committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said.

“The other possibility is the player is infected from contact with a service provider who has somehow slipped through the net of testing. Infection in fully vaccinated people is known as breakthrough infection. That is why repeated testing is the only way to keep the bubble secure", he concluded.

In the Zimbabwe camp, the positive test was returned by a baggage handler. 

"Yes, the baggage-man (Manjula) who was attached with the team has tested positive,” an SLC source confirmed. 

(Bipin Dani)