Not only halting all cricketing fixtures and tournaments for more than three months, the Novel Coronavirus pandemic is now counting patients from the global cricket fraternity as well. Just a week after former Pakistani all rounder Shahid Afridi tested positive for COVID-19, three more cricketers from Bangladesh, including their iconic pacer Mashrafe Mortaza, have been confirmed to be infected.
Along with Mashrafe Mortaza, the two other Bangladeshi cricketers who have tested positive for COVID-19 are first class spinner Nazmul Islam and former opening batsman Nafees Iqbal.
Mortaza, who formerly captained the Bangladesh national cricket team, was reported to be sick for the past few days, just before his positive test results arrived on Saturday. The 36 year old former fast medium bowler, who is now a member of the parliament, took to social media to share the news.
“Today my Covid-19 results came as positive. Everyone please pray for my quick recovery,” Mortaza reached out to his fans via his official Facebook page yesterday.
Mentioning the number of Coronavirus cases in Bangladesh, which has now crossed 112K, Mortaza suggested remaining indoors: “The number of infected has now crossed one lakh. We all have to become more careful. Let’s all stay at home, and not get out unless it is necessary.”
“I am abiding by the protocol at home. Rather than panic, we need to raise awareness about corona” the 36 year old concluded.
Mortaza, who has earned 36 Test, 220 ODI and 54 T20I caps for The Tigers, lended a helping hand to the poor and distressed in Narail. Ijn addition to charity and social work amidst the pandemic, he provided some combined harvester machines and other equipments for many farmers. He also put up some of his cricket kits for auction to raise funds for COVID relief.
Nazmul Islam, who plays for Dhaka Division cricket team in the National Cricket League, tested positive on 20th June. The 28 year old, who has made one Test, five ODI and 13 T20I appearances for Bangladesh, took part in welfare duties such as distributing food and essential commodities in Narayanganj.
Nafees Iqbal, the elder brother of the current ODI captain of Tamim Iqbal and nephew of former Bangladeshi cricketer Akram Khan, tested positive of Coronavirus, as per reports from Bangladeshi English daily The Daily Star.
The 35 year old former batsman, who made 11 Test and 16 ODI appearances for Bangladesh, is now under self isolation at his home in Chittagong, as he confirmed to the media.
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