Pakistan Head Coach Misbah-ul-Haq has recovered from covid-19 and will return to Lahore on September 5, Sunday. He will depart from Jamaica, where he completed his mandatory quarantine after testing positive last week.
Misbah was supposed to leave with his squad after finishing the West Indies tour on August 25. Unfortunately, the pre-departure RT-PCR Test turned out to be positive, meaning he couldn’t leave for his hometown.
He was the only one who tested positive and had to stay back, while the rest of the coaching staff and players took the flight back home. Now, it has been confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that Misbah-ul-Haq tested negative.
Once he completes the 10-day quarantine period, he can leave Jamaica. “Misbah, who is asymptomatic, will now undergo a 10-day quarantine, following which he will depart for Pakistan,” the PCB had stated last week.
Pakistan will next face off against New Zealand at home. It will be a historic series, since its the first Kiwi side to visit the Asian country after 18 years. Two days ago, the PCB had announced the squad for the same.
“The series against New Zealand is extremely important for Pakistan as the matches are part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification. While we have tried to put together a formidable and a balanced unit, we have continued to ensure that we give opportunities to high-performing players while looking into the future so that we can develop a strong bench strength,” PCB chief selector Muhammad Wasim said.
Pakistan’s 20-man squad for the ODI Series against New Zealand
Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood.
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