Six Pakistan players ‘negative’ in second COVID-19 test
Image : Collected
|| Desk Report ||
Six Pakistan players were tested negative among the 10 cricketers that have been tested positive in the first phase ahead of the much-awaited England Tour.
They are Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz. However, they must return a second negative result before they can join the main squad of 20 players, who will leave for England on Sunday.
“These players were asymptomatic, which means their chances of regaining complete fitness are higher and brighter than most,” PCB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wasim Khan said in a statement.
“As soon as these players test negative twice through the PCB testing process they will be flown to England to join the squad,” Wasim added.
But Kashif Bhatti, Haris Rauf, Haider Ali and Imran Khan have tested positive once again.
Pakistan are scheduled to play a three-Test series and as many T20Is behind closed doors in August-September although the exact dates and venues have not been announced yet by either the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) or Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
After reaching Manchester on Sunday, the players will undergo coronavirus tests before moving to Worcestershire for a 14-day isolation period, the PCB said.
Test captain Azhar Ali and limited-overs skipper Babar Azam will be in the first batch of players, accompanied by head coach Misbah-ul-Haq.
Fast bowling coach Waqar Younis will travel to England from Australia, while Twenty20 specialist Shoaib Malik has been allowed to join late after meeting his family in India.
“With the Test series being played first in August, Misbah (-ul-Haq) is satisfied with the group of players that are travelling on Sunday as the focus will be on red-ball preparation,” the PCB CEO added.
