Udupi: Dr. Prashant Bhat, the COVID-19 nodal officer of the district on Thursday tested positive for the virus following which the District Health and Family Welfare Officer has also been sent to home quarantine.

Ever since the detection of COVID-19 in the Udupi District, Dr. Prashant was working as the nodal officer for the pandemic. District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Dr. Sudhirchandra Sood, who was working closely with Dr. Prashant during the course of the pandemic, has also been sent to home quarantine as a precautionary measure.

READ ALSO: Udupi: Police officer, auto-driver get down into well to rescue 80-year-old woman

Dr. Prashant has been serving as the nodal officer for four and a half months and had been following up about each COVID-19 case that was detected in the district over the course of time.

All the latest news from Mangaluru, Udupi just one click away. CLICK here to read all the important news from Udupi/ Dakshina Kannada in a single click.

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.



Karachi (PTI): The Pakistan Cricket Board admitted that no contract was ever sent to Blessing Muzarabani to play in the PSL but insisted that a firm verbal agreement was reached with the Zimbabwe pacer and he had breached the trust while joining the Indian Premier League.

The PCB recently imposed a two-year ban on Muzarabani from playing in the PSL claiming he breached a contract with Islamabad United and joined IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders.

The fast bowler’s agent, Rob Humphries tore into the PCB on Sunday in a social media post for the ban and claimed his client neither took part in the PSL players auction nor signed any contract with Islamabad United.

Humphries said the ban was excessive and unjustified.

But sources in the PCB while conceding no contract was signed with Rabbani claimed that a clear verbal agreement between both the parties was reached.

The source said this was also clear in the PCB announcement about the ban that despite a clear offer and an unequivocal acceptance of essential terms, the player chose to disregard these obligations in favour of a conflicting arrangement.

The PCB source said once essential terms — including remuneration and structure — are agreed upon through written correspondence, a binding obligation is formed.

But Humphries said after talks began with Islamabad United they had made it clear that unless they had a contract they couldn’t apply for an NOC from the Zimbabwe Cricket.

“We've remained quiet publicly over the last six weeks because we did not wish to create or cause anymore animosity for the Pakistan Super League/Pakistan Cricket Board than they had already created for themselves,” Humphries’ statement said.

"[On] 13 February, Blessing [was] approached by Islamabad United about a playing opportunity for the 2026 PSL. The deal [was] agreed subject to obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Zimbabwe Cricket.

“An NOC cannot be obtained without a contract from the PSL. Islamabad United/PSL announced the signing to the world via social media,” it said.

Humphries further urged the PCB to gracefully withdraw the ban and accept this situation risen out of an administrative error at their end.

Muzarabani was taken by Islamabad as a replacement for West Indian pacer Shamar Joseph for USD 40,000.