No, We Didn’t Think About It: Babar Azam On Whether Pakistan Thought Of Abandoning England Tour Due To Covid Outbreak

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has said that the thought of abandoning the England tour didn’t come to the visitors’ minds following the outbreak of Covid in the English camp.

Two days before the first ODI in Cardiff, the ECB revealed that seven members of the English contingent including three players have tested positive for the Wuhan virus.

The entire squad was immediately forced into isolation before the ECB hastily announced a fresh 18-strong squad with Ben Stokes at the helm.

“No, we didn’t think about it, it didn’t come into our minds at any time,” said Babar Azam during the virtual press conference ahead of the first ODI in Cardiff.

Azam said that the PCB and ECB have assured the Pakistan touring party regarding their safety and health and hence they are just focussing on their game and the upcoming series rather than fret over the Covid situation.

“The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and ECB have assured us that they will take care of the safety and health of all the squad members. Of course it was disappointing news. We must understand that these are unprecedented times of COVID-19. We are focusing on cricket and the first game.” said Azam.

‘We can’t take any player playing for England lightly’- Babar Azam

England have announced an inexperienced squad that consists of as many as nine uncapped players.

But Babar asserted that Pakistan will not take the ODI world champions lightly even though they are not at their full strength.

Azam, who has represented Somerset in the T20 Blast, is aware of the strengths of quite a few England players that have been selected for the ODI series.

As far as those who are little known to him, the

“We can’t take any player playing for England lightly. They may be new players but they are playing for England. I know a few of them having played in the T20 Blast and those we don’t know we have researched their performances.” said Babar Azam.

The first ODI between England and Pakistan in Cardiff on July 08 and the series will be a great opportunity for the Babar Azam-led unit to notch up their first bilateral ODI series win in England since 1974.

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