Covid-Positive Players Can't Travel To England, Says ECB As It Gives Green Light To Pakistan Series

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has ended all the speculation surrounding the series against Pakistan. Both the teams are scheduled to play three Tests and as many T20I in August-September but there was a big question mark over the series after as many as ten Pakistan players were tested positive for Covid-19.

However, the ECB has confirmed that the Pakistan team will arrive in the UK on Sunday to start preparation for the series. The ECB also confirmed that the players who have been tested positive will not be part of the touring party. The 10 Pakistan players, including Mohammad Hafeez, who have tested positive have been placed under home-quarantine.

“They (Pakistan team) will start a 14-day isolation period at Blackfinch New Road, Worcester before transferring to Derbyshire’s, The Incora County Ground on July 13 to accelerate their preparation ahead of the first Test, which will include two four-day internal warm-up matches,” stated the ECB.

“All members of the tour party will have been tested prior to travel. Those who are testing positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted to travel with the advance group on Sunday,” it added.

England are currently gearing up to take on West Indies in the three-match Test series starting July 8 at the Ageas Bowl. The series will mark the resumption of international cricket after cricket action around the world was suspended in the wake of the pandemic. The ODI between Australia and New Zealand on March 13 was the last international game.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating relaxing their Covid-19 testing policy ahead of the tour of England. When the PCB agreed to the tour, they had announced a strict testing policy which meant that only players who twice tested negative for coronavirus would depart to England.

However, with as many as ten of the 29 players selected for the tour testing positive for the virus earlier this week, the PCB is reportedly contemplating changing its policy. Dr Sohail Saleem, the head of PCB’s medical department, has been speaking to medical experts around the world in a bid to get different opinions on this issue.

“Dr Sohail has been seeking opinions from several leading medical experts before making a call on whether those players who have tested positive can be sent to England after returning one negative test,” a well-placed source was quoted as saying by thenews.com.pk.

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