New Delhi: Just before the first Test match between England and Pakistan, over a dozen members of the English team are down with a virus, including skipper Ben Stokes. The first Test match will be played on December 1. Millions of fans were waiting for this Test to take place between England and Pakistan. England players like Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, and Joe Root are fit to take part in the 1st Test.
"Several players and staff members, including England captain Ben Stokes, are feeling unwell and have been advised to stay at the hotel to rest up," said the England and Wales Cricket Board in a statement.
According to the report by ANI, “PCB & ECB are in discussions regarding the commencement of the 1st PakvsEng Test as some England players are down with a viral infection. The PCB continues to monitor the situation, is in contact with the ECB, and will provide further updates in due course”, Pakistan Cricket Board stated.
“We are in discussions with the PCB regarding the start of the first Test due to a viral infection within our camp,” England Cricket quoted.
Earlier, England coach Brendon McCullum specified that his team will be looking to play entertaining cricket in Pakistan.
"This (Pakistan) is obviously a great place to tour and it's been starved of international cricket for a long period of time. We understand how passionate people are here in Pakistan about this form of cricket and we understand the obligation that we have as an England side, and we are looking forward to coming over here and playing an entertaining style of cricket which hopefully ends up in results, whether that's in our favour or in Pakistan's favour," McCullum was quoted as saying by planetsport.com.