‘Was scared after hearing Walsh turned Covid-19 positive’

West Indies' many big names including the likes of Jaosn Holder, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope had already opted out of the upcoming ODI and Test series against Bangladesh citing Covid-19 fears. And West Indies' already inexperienced 15-member ODI squad for the tour received another major blow yesterday when leg-spinner Hayden Walsh tested positive for coronavirus and was eventually deemed unavailable for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh.    

That news was certainly shocking and horrifying for the visitors, who had to go through a series of coronavirus tests and a mandatory three-day individual isolation period in their hotel rooms since their arrival in Bangladesh on January 10 before getting on the field for training.  

"It is a very sad situation [Walsh turning positive for Covid-19]. When I heard about it, to be honest, I was scared," said Sunil Ambris, vice-captain of the West Indies ODI squad for the tour, during a virtual press meeting arranged by the CWI today. 

The West Indies players trained for the first time on Thursday at the BCB Academy Ground following their three-day quarantine period. The visitors will have to practise on their own for a while as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would only provide them with net bowlers once they have cleared as many as three coronavirus tests in seven days. 

However, except Walsh, who is now in isolation and under the observation of their team physician Dr Praimanand​ Singh, all the other members have tested negative in the latest round of coronavirus tests.

And like Ambris, the rest of the West Indies squad would now have to just move forward with a positive attitude for the rest of the tour.

"But that's out of my mind now. I just want to think ahead, try and stay safe and be positive," added Ambris.

Ambris, who played a total of 13 ODIs, faced Bangladesh thrice during his brief ODI career. And it seems as if the right-hander enjoys batting against the Tigers as he amassed a total of 130 runs -- including an unbeaten fifty -- at an average of 65 in those three games. 

Asked if there is a secret behind his success against Tigers, he said, "Not really. My cricket does not change [for any particular side]. I tend to stay positive and try and play smart cricket. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. I guess it happens more often than not when playing against Bangladesh."

But Ambris, who played all those three games against Bangladesh in a neutral venue in Dublin, Ireland last year, was aware that he would have to work hard to score runs here in Bangladesh. 

"Hopefully the pitch here would not be much different. But I don't think it will be that easy. I will have to work a little bit more than I did in Ireland as the pitches there were really good for batting. 

Many of the players in the West Indies ODI squad are inexperienced and are still trying to cement their places permanently in the full-strength West Indies squad. Even Windies ODI captain Jason Mohammed had earlier said that he would like to confirm his place in the full-strength West Indies XI by playing good cricket in this series. 

Ambris is no different in that regard and the 27-year-old also knows what he would need to do in the ODIs against Bangladesh in order to be considered for West Indies' future tours and series.

"I would love to at least score one hundred. I think that would do me a lot of good [in order to make a place in the full-strength West Indies XI]," concluded Ambris.