Shiran tests negative for Covid-19

Sri Lanka cricketer Shiran Fernando, who was the only member from the Lankan contingent to have returned coronavirus positive on the return test on Sunday and subsequently had to isolate, has tested negative for the virus today.

The cricketer had to sit out the first two ODIs where Bangladesh clinched the series 2-0. Shiran -- one of the three members of the Sri Lankan cricket team who tested positive in the first tests on Saturday, returned positive result again while the two others -- all-rounder Isuru Udana and bowling coach Chaminda Vaas -- returned negative results in the second test on Sunday as the first ODI, despite a coronavirus scare got the green signal to go on as scheduled.

He [Shiran Fernando] underwent a Covid test yesterday and has returned a negative result today. He is now with the [Sri Lanka] team," informed the BCB physician Monjurul Hossain Chowdhury to The Daily Star today.

There had been suggestions, including from BCB president Nazmul Hassan that the positive tests could be a case of 'false positive' and especially in case of Shiran who had recovered from the virus not so long ago.

"We think that one who tested positive, maybe since he recovered from coronavirus a few days back, the PCR test detected dead RNA. There are times it [dead virus RNA] can stay in the body for 28 days. This is why we have once again sent for new tests.

"The same thing happened with Khaled Mahmud Sujon. When entering the bubble he returned negative in the first of the two tests but the second returned positive. He said he had no symptoms and later test returned negative," Nazmul had said during the first ODI.

It took three days for Shiran to turn negative after having tested positive on Sunday.