Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting will miss his team’s IPL match on Friday after a member of his family contracted Covid-19.

The Australian is one of several members of the Delhi contingent – including New Zealand’s Tim Seifert, Australian Mitchell Marsh and four support staff – who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last few days.

But the outbreak has not disrupted the match schedule in the world’s most lucrative cricket tournament.

The Capitals on Friday said Ponting had tested negative in two tests since his family member, a “close contact”, became infected.

Ponting “will remain in isolation for five days” and will “not be present at the ground”, the Capitals said just hours before their match against the resurgent Rajasthan Royals.

Delhi, led by Rishabh Pant, are at the sixth spot in the expanded 10-team tournament.

The IPL’s 15th edition has 74 matches but games are restricted to four venues in Mumbai and Pune over coronavirus concerns.

India has recorded a jump in the number of Covid-19 cases in recent weeks but the spike is nowhere near the peak seen between March and May last year.

© Agence France-Presse