Ahead of ATK Mohun Bagan’s (ATKMB) departure for the AFC Cup group stage competition, scheduled to be held in Maldives, couple of team players — Prabir Das and SK Sahil — have tested positive for COVID-19.
The duo returned positive after all the team members underwent COVID-19 tests at a private hospital in Kolkata on May 7. After the test, the team was supposed to head to Maldives capital, Male for the Group D matches beginning on May 14.
Notably, under the AFC protocols, competing players will have to have COVID-19 negative reports two days before departure from their home base.
ATKMB are scheduled to leave for Maldives on Monday.
In their opening game on May 14, ATKMB are scheduled to face the winner of the play-off match between another ISL side Bengaluru FC (BFC) and Eagles FC of Maldives to be played on Tuesday.
Now, ATKMB will have to take a call as to when they would depart from Kolkata after Maldives Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof’s had alleged that BFC had “breached” COVID-19 protocols and asked the AFC to cancel the play-off game and postpone the group stage matches also.
The nature of the alleged “breach” by BFC is not clear. BFC had reached Maldives on Friday.