By Priya Nagi Christchurch, March 3 : Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. The 24-year-old will now isolate for 10 days here and in line with ICC and New Zealand Government Health guidelines, meaning she will miss Australia’s matches against England on March 5 and Pakistan on March 8. Gardner has, however, reported no symptoms so far. “Ash is fine,” the sources in the know of development told . It is also understood that Gardner “did nothing wrong”, while following the guidelines of the managed environment set for the showpiece event. Strict bio-bubbles and daily Covid-19 tests have been done away with for the World Cup, with the ICC planning to stage the tournament in a managed environment instead. The rules have been put in place after considering the fact that all teams and officials in New Zealand would have undergone Mandatory Isolation Quarantine (MIQ) upon arrival. Gardner scored 60 off just 32 balls for Australia in their warm-up game against New Zealand on March 1, but since received a positive “PCR test” following a “routine RAT”. “All remaining Australian players and support staff have tested negative following subsequent RATs,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “(They) will proceed with existing plans to travel to Hamilton this evening ahead of the side’s opening match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup against England on Saturday.” Chief selector Shawn Flegler will also remain in Christchurch while Gardner is in isolation. More than 22,000 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in New Zealand this week, with peak of cases expected over the next week or two. Earlier on February 24, the ICC announced that the teams will be able to field a side with only nine players if their squad is affected by Covid-19. Teams have been allowed to bring extra reserves with them to New Zealand, beyond the 15-member squad, so players can be added to squad in the case of infections. Heather Graham and Georgia Redmayne are Australia’s travelling reserves. The World Cup will begin on March 4, when hosts New Zealand take on West Indies in Mount Maunganui.
