Sandeep Lamichhane, the Nepal legspinner, has tested positive for Covid-19. He revealed this in an Instagram post, in which he said he has experienced body aches since Wednesday, and that he has now gone into home isolation.
The news comes just over a week after Lamichhane had signed for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, and puts his participation in the tournament in serious doubt. It was to be his third season in the BBL; he has previously featured for the Melbourne Stars.
Lamichhane is the fourth Nepal player known to have tested positive for the virus in the lead-up to the team's training camp at Tribhuvan University Stadium in Kathmandu. On Wednesday, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had announced that captain Gyanendra Malla, vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee and batsman Rohit Paudel had tested positive alongside Pradeep Lama, a member of the staff.
The 20-year-old Lamichhane is Nepal's highest wicket-taker in international cricket - his 57 scalps put him ahead of the seamer Karan KC - and also their most recognised cricketer globally. Apart from the BBL, he has also played in the Bangladesh Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, the Indian Premier League and the Pakistan Super League.