Newly-tested 7-Pakistan players detected COVID-19 positive
Image : Collected
|| Desk Report ||
Seven additional Pakistan players have been tested positive for the coronavirus after the latest compulsory COVID -19 test ahead of their much-awaited England tour, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced today.
They are Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz, who have all tested positive for COVID-19.
After their contagion by the virus, the number of infected players of the national team is now 10. Three cricketers, including top off-spinner Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Haris Rauf tested positive on Monday.
“The PCB medical panel is already in contact with these players and the masseur, who have been instructed to observe strict quarantine at their homes for their and their families’ wellbeing,” the PCB said in a release.
The players were scheduled to fly to England on June 28. They who tested negative will now gather in Lahore on June 24.
Pakistan Chief Executive officer Wasim Khan is still upbeat to travel to England and play the test series as only one red ball member is in the positive listed players.
“The tour to England is very much on track and the side will depart as per schedule,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said.
“Fortunately, all the first-choice red-ball squad, barring Mohammad Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training and practising immediately after they have been tested and given the all-clear when they arrive in England,” Wasim added.
“In the meantime, Misbah-ul-Haq is reviewing the training schedule in England and is firming up plans for reserve players to be tested as a back-up,” he pointed out.
The 19 players who tested negative are - Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmad, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan and Yasir Shah - have returned negative tests.
