Five junior cricketers will join India’s squad in the U-19 World Cup in Antigua as back-up for those who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are currently in isolation.

This includes Bengal’s wicketkeeper-batsman Abhishek Porel, who got a call-up following his superb performance in the Cooch Behar Trophy — 708 runs in five matches at an average of 101.14.

India have just 12 players to choose from in their final group B clash against Uganda on Saturday as five of their six members returned positive in RT-PCR tests. India have already qualified for the quarter finals.

The new players will leave in the early hours of Saturday and will have to serve a mandatory six-day quarantine upon their arrival.

This was an “unexpected” call for Porel, who is from Chandernagore in Hooghly district. Bengal’s U-19 coach Devang Gandhi showered praise on Porel. “He is a supremely talented and hard-working boy,” Devang said.