India head coach Ravi Shastri has been forced to remain in the team hotel after testing positive for Covid-19 during the ongoing fourth Test against England at The Oval.

The BCCI said Shastri, bowling coach B Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Patel were all isolating as a “precautionary measure” following 59-year-old former India all-rounder Shastri’s positive lateral flow test late on Saturday.

They have all undergone PCR testing, with the BCCI statement saying they will “remain in the team hotel and not travel with Team India until confirmation from the medical team”.

A spokesman added later Sunday that Arun, Sridhar and Patel had all since tested negative.

Officials insisted it was safe for the match to continue as the remaining members of the Indian contingent had undergone two lateral flow tests, one on Saturday and another on Sunday morning, all of which produced “negative Covid reports”, and were allowed to go to The Oval for the fourth day.

But Shastri, Arun, Sridhar and Patel were not at the south London ground, as India resumed on 270-3 in their second innings, a lead of 171 runs, in a five-match series all square at 1-1.

The fifth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, is scheduled to start on Friday, 10 September.

The two teams have been in separate environments, with the only interactions taking place on the field during play.

© Agence France-Presse