Women’s T20 CWG 2022 Final: Why was Tahlia McGrath allowed to play against India despite testing COVID positive

It would a massive understatement to say that the Women’s T20I tournament at Commonwealth Games was a success. The sport was very well received and attracted a lot of newer fans in the tournament.

The final proved to be a great example to the Women’s game as it turned out to be a highly exciting affair between the two teams. Australia won the match in a nail-biting final by nine runs.

Before the start of the match, however, the game was thrown into a bit of confusion as Tahlia McGrath had tested positive. The all-rounder was seen sitting in the stands while both teams took to the ground. McGarth was sitting by herself away from all people while Australian players sat in their dugout.

She however later took to the ground and batted at number four. Commonwealth Games Australia had confirmed the news of McGrath’s inclusion in the team saying that they had taken permission from the match officials of the Commonwealth Games.

“McGrath presented to team management with mild symptoms on Sunday and subsequently returned the positive test,” a statement from Commonwealth Games Australia said. “She was named in the starting XI at the toss and the Apex body of cricket approved her participation in the final” read the statement.

After the match Australian batter Beth Mooney said, “it’s no different if someone playing and they’ve got a cold or flu.”

“It’s a real shame that in elite sport you get publicly shamed for having Covid when over here probably 90 per cent in this room have it right now. No one is testing, no one is doing anything. It’s a shame she couldn’t really celebrate with us”, she continued.

We had to show the sportsman’s spirit- Harmanpreet Kaur

When the Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur was asked about the decision, she said, “They informed us before the toss. That was something not in our control because the Commonwealth has to take the decision. We were OK because she (Tahlia McGrath) wasn’t very ill, so we just decided to play.”

She said, “We had to show the sportsman’s spirit. We’re happy that we didn’t say no to Tahlia because that (missing the final) would have been very hard-hitting for her.”