Star T20 player Sandeep Lamichhane has tested positive for COVID-19 recently just before the T20 tournament - Big Bash League where he was about to play Hobart Hurricanes. They leg-spinner Saturday confirmed the news, citing on social media that it was his “sincere duty to tell you all that I have been tested positive for COVID-19. I had some body aches since Wednesday. But my health is improving a little bit now.”

He has performed quite well in the Big Bash League before for the Melbourne Stars along with Australian limited-overs spinner Adam Zampa. But for this season, he has signed with the Hurricanes to improve their hopes of winning a first BBL title.

Lamichhane is well known for his calibre in the shortest format of the game who has played for the Nepalese national team as well as T20 competitions in India, Pakistan, West Indies and Canada as well. Meanwhile, Hobart Hurricanes are slated to open the BBL season against defending champions Sydney Sixers in Hobart on Dec. 10.

On the other hand, another Pakistan cricketer tested positive for the global pandemic novel coronavirus as the team remained confined to their hotel in Christchurch on Saturday. The team, who arrived four days ago, were unable to train and also on a "final warning" for breaching New Zealand's tight quarantine restrictions amid the crunch time of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, despite coming as negative before flying to New Zealand, six players tested positive after their test on the day one in the country which left their New Zealand tour in doubt, which is about to start from December 18.

"One additional member of the Pakistan cricket squad has today tested positive," the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Saturday, confirming the seventh player who have tested positive. "The remainder of the results from the squad's day-three swab testing, apart from the six who have already returned a positive result, are negative."