|| Desk Report ||

Pakistan suffered a huge blow before their departure for the much-awaited tour of England as three of their cricketers Shadab Khan, Haris Ruaf and Haider Ali have all tested COVID -19 positive.

They did not show any symptoms until they were screened in Rawalpindi ahead of the England tour. All three players are part of the white-ball fixtures of England tour.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari were also screened in Rawalpindi but they were tested negative for the virus. The PCB finally released a statement informing those information about their players.                                      

“The players had shown no symptoms until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday,” the PCB said in a statement.

“The PCB medical panel is in contact with the three who have been advised to immediately go into self-isolation,” it also said.

The PCB added that other players and staff apart from Shoaib Malik, bowling coach Waqar Younis and physio Cliffe Deacon were tested in Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi on Monday, with the test results expected on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Test and limited overs’ squads are set to tour England for three Tests and three Twenty20 internationals. They were due to fly out later this month to quarantine themselves ahead of the first Test on July 30.