Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun, R Sridhar yet to get ‘fit to fly’ certificate to return home: BCCI official

In what can be called a major development, Team India head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar are yet to become eligible to fly from England. For the unversed, Shastri contracted the COVID-19 virus ahead of the fourth Test between England and India earlier this month. He eventually underwent isolation alongside Arun and Sridhar, who were deemed close to him.

Although this news didn’t affect the fourth Test, more cases in the India camp meant the fifth and final Test got indefinitely postponed. While the Indian players have already left for UAE for the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, Shastri, Arun, and Sridhar stayed back due to quarantine protocols.

As of now, all three support staff members have returned with negative COVID-19 tests. They have even completed the mandatory 10-day isolation period. However, they would need to undergo a “fit to fly” test to catch the flight for UAE.

We expect Shastri and others to fly out in the next two days if all goes well with CT score: BCCI official

“Shastri, Arun and Sridhar are all doing well physically having recovered from COVID-19. They are out of isolation. However, as per health protocols they need to have a CT score of 38 plus which will ensure a fit to fly certificate for them. We expect them to fly out in next two days if all goes well with CT score,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

For the unversed, the CT (CT scan) shows the presence of viral load in a COVID-19 affected person and how much his lungs have been infected. A higher CT score indicates recovery and it is believed that to take long flights, one needs to have a CT score of 40.

As none of the three Indian coaches have any symptoms and are fit, they can only avail the return flight once they get the certificate from the health officials. Meanwhile, the trio’s next assignment is the high-voltage T20 World Cup 2021, which gets underway on October 17. With the global event being a month away, time doesn’t seem to be an issue for Shastri, Arun and Sridhar.