Shakib tests negative in first Covid test, Mustafiz waits

Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman returned home from India on a chartered flight last Thursday. The 14-day quarantine of these two IPL returning cricketers started from that very day. While Shakib is in quarantine at a hotel in Gulshan, Mustafiz is staying with his wife at the Hotel Sonargaon.

They both have been tested for Covid since their arrival. Shakib's test result is negative.

However, Mustafiz has not yet received the test results. His results will come on Sunday.

BCB doctor Debashish Chowdhury confirmed the news to The Business Standard.

He said, 'The first corona test of two Bangladeshi cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, who returned to the country after playing in the IPL, has been done. We have got Shakib's result, his result is negative. We have not yet received the results of Mustafiz. I hope the results will come by Sunday morning."

Shakib and Mustafiz were scheduled to return to the country on May 16 after playing in the IPL. But due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the IPL was stopped. So they returned to the country sooner under special arrangements.

The BCB was trying to reduce the quarantine time of the two cricketers as they had a home series against Sri Lanka. But the health department informed that there is no exemption for them, and Shakib-Mustafiz will have to undergo mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine.

However, the BCB did not stop trying.

BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said on Saturday, "We are trying to reduce their quarantine time. I got a green signal today. As soon as their two reports are negative, they will be able to join the practice."