Dhaka: Former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has been found positive for the novel coronavirus. Bangladesh daily Dhaka Tribune confirmed the news quoting a source.
It said, "Mashrafe complained of fever on Thursday night. On Friday, his sample for COVID-19 test was collected and the result showed positive (today)," the source was quoted as saying on Saturday afternoon. He is doing well at the moment and is taking treatment at home. His family is also fine."
"My brother has had a fever for two days. He did the test last night. Today came the test positive. He is at home in isolation," Morsalin, Mortaza's brother, told Cricbuzz.
The cricketer is a legend in Bangladesh and has led his team in limited over game format. He has represented his nation in 36 Tests, 220 ODIs and 54 T20Is.
Mortaza is the second Bangladesh cricketer to test positive for COVID-19. Earlier, it was reported that another Bangladesh player Nafees Iqbal has also tested positive for the contagion. The elder brother of Bangladesh's ODI captain Tamim Iqbal, Nafees has played 11 Tests and 16 ODIs from 2003 to 2006. He is under home isolation.
The Daily Star newspaper reported that the opening batsman himself confirmed the news and said that he was undergoing home isolation.
Mortaza, now, is the fifth international cricketer to test positive for the contagion. Majid Haq from Scotland was the first cricketer who tested positive for COVID-19.
Last month, former Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar also tested positive - he has now recovered. Recently, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi had also tested positive for the infection while on Saturday, the news of Mortaza and Nafees testing positive was also confirmed. Two Pakistani cricketers (first-class cricket) Zafar Sarfraz and Riaz Sheikh have lost their lives due to the virus.
