England Tour Likely To Be Cancelled After 7 More Pakistan Players Test Positive For Coronavirus

Pakistan is due to play England for a full series after they wind up a Test series against West Indies, starting July 8, which will mark the restart of Test cricket after Corona break.

Photo: @PCB (Twitter)

Lahore: In what comes as another major blow for Pakistan men's cricket team ahead of their 'risky' tour of England, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Tuesday that their seven more players and a player support personnel have tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier, the board had confirmed about three players – Haider Ali, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf testing positive for Covid-19, after which more tests were carried out.

The PCB medical panel has instructed these players to observe strict quarantine at their homes for their and their families’ wellbeing. It's now almost but certain that Pakistan's tour of England is likely to be cancelled after ten players testing positive for the deadly virus.

Pakistan is due to play England for a full series after they wind up a Test series against West Indies, starting July 8, which will mark the restart of Test cricket after Corona break.

Players who have tested positive are: Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz

Players who have 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

Player Support Personnel, who has tested positive: Malang Ali (masseur)

Not tested to date: Shoaib Malik, Cliffe Deacon and Waqar Younis

Earlier, Shahid Afridi and a couple of other former Pakistan cricketers had also tested positive.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “As regards the players, who have tested positive, we will continue to monitor and support them, including conducting antibody tests, and as soon as they test negative, they will be flown to join the squad in England. At the moment, they have been advised to go into self-isolation so that they not only recover quickly but also prevent their other family members from being infected.

“The tour to England is very much on track and the side will depart as per schedule on 28 June. Fortunately, all the first-choice red-ball squad, barring Mohammad Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training and practicing immediately after they have been tested and given the all clear when they arrive in England

“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 backup.”