Carlos Brathwaite has been forced into isolation and is in doubt for Jamaica Tallawahs' opening match of the Caribbean Premier League on Friday after a positive Covid-19 case was reported on his flight from the UK to St Kitts and Nevis.
Brathwaite travelled from Manchester to Basseterre ahead of the CPL after captaining Manchester Originals in the Hundred. A fellow passenger tested positive for Covid-19 and he was told to isolate until further notice.
"My tests have been negative as far as I know," Brathwaite said. "We've been asked to be in quarantine. I still don't know the full extent of it. I've just been told I need to continue to quarantine as opposed to being allowed to walk around the hotel as was initially allowed. So I'm just as much in the dark as you are, unfortunately."
Speaking from his hotel room following the announcement that he re-signed with Sydney Sixers for the upcoming BBL season later in the year, the allrounder said he was unsure whether he would be available for the Tallawahs' opening clash with Saint Lucia Kings on Friday.
"Not sure," Brathwaite said. "I haven't actually received anything official yet to know when day one is and how many days of quarantine, etc. So yeah, I'm just skipping in my room and doing sit-ups and hoping to be at least physically ready to go if I can."
Brathwaite was retained by Tallawahs along with Andre Russell after they were knocked out in last season's semi-final by eventual champions Trinbago Knight Riders. He believes Knight Riders won't have it all their own way this season.
"The tournament is going to be interesting," Brathwaite said. "I don't think it will be an undefeated run to the finals as Trinidad had last year. I think it will be a little closer. I think all the teams are more evenly matched."
Brathwaite said runs from the top order will be key to Tallawahs' chances given the quality of the allrounders and spin-bowling.
"I feel as though we have a few potential match-winners. Myself, Russell, Rovman Powell obviously in the middle. Our spin attack, we've lost Mujeeb and we've lost Sandeep but we have Qais Ahmad, Veerasammy Permaul, and Chris Green. So when you look at it that's a real balanced spin attack, left-arm orthodox, right-arm offspinner, leg-break bowler.
"I think we just need to get some runs at the top of the ordr and middle order to provide a good platform. I think too many times last year we were 30 for 3, 40 for 4 and we didn't really have a good platform to go on and get big scores.
"So this year, setting a good platform and if we add the firepower that I know myself, Russell and Rovman can give, added with the spin stocks that we have and the whole bowling unit actually, I think we'll do well."
Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo
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