Dubai (PTI): Head coach Rahul Dravid has tested negative for COVID-19 and is set to join the Indian team ahead of its much-awaited Asia Cup opener against Pakistan here on Sunday.

Batting great Dravid, who had tested positive for the virus ahead of the team's departure for the continental tournament in a routine test, has fully recovered from the condition.

The former India skipper didn't travel with the team after testing positive as the BCCI appointed NCA head VVS Laxman as India's interim coach.

Since returning positive in the test conducted on August 23, Dravid had been undergoing home isolation.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Jay Shah released a statement where he stated that the Indian head coach had mild symptoms.

"Team India Head Coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19 in a routine test conducted ahead of the team's departure to the UAE for Asia Cup 2022.

"Dravid is under the supervision of the BCCI Medical team and has mild symptoms. He will join the team once he returns with a negative COVID-19 report," Shah had said in a release.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bengaluru: A 39-year-old nurse was found murdered at her residence in Kumaraswamy Layout in south Bengaluru, with police suspecting that she was killed while resisting a robbery.

The victim, identified as Mamatha, hailed from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district and was working at Jayadeva Hospital. She had been staying at a house in Pragathipura along with a colleague for the past two years, Deccan Herald reported.

ALSO READ: Two of family killed after car crashes into roadside tree in Karnataka

According to police, the incident occurred on Wednesday when Mamatha was alone at home. The assailants allegedly barged into the house, overpowered her, slit her throat with a sharp weapon and fled after robbing her gold chain.

Citing preliminary investigations, an officer said Mamatha likely resisted the robbery, as a broken piece of her gold chain was found at the crime scene suggested a scuffle at the crime scene.

The incident came to light the next evening after her family members asked the landlord to check on her when she did not answer phone calls.

The incident came to light on Thursday evening after Mamatha failed to respond to repeated phone calls from her family. Concerned relatives asked the landlord to check on her. Using a spare key, the landlord entered the house and found her lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom. He called the police.


Police have shifted the body for post-mortem and are undertaking further investigations to identify and trace the killers.Based on a complaint lodged by her brother Shankar, police have registered a case of murder.