With Sreesanth down with swine flu, other players under watch

MOHALI - With Indian fast bowler Sreesanth testing positive for swine flu, Punjab health officials have decided to give Tamiflu tablets to all the people, including players, who came in contact with the cricketer, said an official Saturday.

Sreesanth was admitted at Fortis hospital here with complaints of sore throat, body ache and high fever Friday. His nasal and throat swab samples were sent for test and the report was positive for the H1N1 virus Friday night.

“Taking precautionary measures, we have given Tamiflu tablets to all people, including players and officials, who came in contact with Sreesanth. If any player exhibits flu-like symptoms then we will immediately collect his throat and nasal swab samples for tests,” Deepak Bhatia, nodal officer of swine flu, Punjab, told IANS.

“Sreesanth is admitted in an isolated ward of the hospital and he is recuperating well. He may be discharged in the next three-four days,” stated Bhatia.

Sreesanth will not be able to play Saturday’s Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka. He had missed the first Twenty20 at Nagpur Wednesday due to an upset stomach.

He had accompanied the Indian team to Chandigarh on Thursday in the same flight and had come in contact with almost all the players and Punjab Cricket Association officials.

PCA authorities are quite confident that Sreesanth’s health will not affect Saturday’s match.

“So far no player from India or Sri Lanka has exhibited any flu-like symptoms. If we come across any such thing, then proper screening will be done,” G.S. Walia, joint secretary PCA, told IANS Saturday.

Both the teams will play their second Twenty20 match under floodlights at the PCA stadium, around 10 km from Chandigarh. Sri Lanka had beaten India in the Nagpur match by 29 runs.