India has suffered a huge blow as their head coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup. It was expected that Dravid would leave for Dubai from Bengaluru on 23rd August but he wouldn’t be able to travel immediately for the multi-team format. However, Dravid might be able to join the team once he recovers from the virus.

VVS Laxman, who was the team’s head coach for the two-match series against Ireland and also for the recent three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, is expected to fill in the coaching shoes of his former teammate. Laxman is currently in Zimbabwe and BCCI is trying to make arrangements for his travel to the UAE.

BCCI released a statement on Tuesday stating that Dravid will join the team once he returns a negative Covid-19 test.

“Mr. Dravid is under the supervision of the BCCI Medical team and has mild symptoms,” the BCCI stated in a release on Tuesday. “He will join the team once he returns with a negative COVID-19 report.”

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on 28th August. The tournament will begin on 27th August.

Meanwhile, the players are expected to travel to Dubai from their respective cities on Tuesday. In fact, some players have already reached while players like KL Rahul, Avesh Khan, and Deepak Hooda will be traveling from Zimbabwe, where they finished a three-match ODI series against the hosts.

India were able to clinch the series by 3-0 after winning the third ODI by 13 runs on Monday at the Harare Sports Club.

India’s squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan