Pakistan Given Boost As Mohammad Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman Cleared To Join Squad In England

In a major boost for Pakistan, senior all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, prolific batsman Fakhar Zaman are among the six players cleared to join the squad which has already flown to England for the Test and T20I series starting in the end of July. The development comes after Mohammad Hafeez and five other players were tested negative for COVID-19.

Earlier, a depleted 20-man Pakistan squad from the original 29 named departed for the England tour. England will host Pakistan for the Test and T20I series in a specially arranged bio-secure environment to withstand the COVID-19 effect.

After their arrival to Manchester, the squad will be transported to Worcestershire where they will undergo testing. The visitors will then be isolated for 14 days, during which they will be allowed to train. The side will move to Derbyshire on July 13 to prepare for their three-test and three T20 international series against the home side in August-September.

Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman to join Pakistan squad

The list of player who will join the Pakistan squad in England are Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hasnain and Shoaib Malik. The second set of players will join the squad in Worcester ahead of next month’s series against England.

Meanwhile, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan and Kashif Bhatti are the players enlisted in the original squad, who are still to be tested.

English cricket board had earlier maintained that the series will go ahead as per scheduled but the players who have been tested positive will not be allowed to participate, due to safety concerns.

Pakistan will tour England for a Test and T20I series, which will get underway from July 30 with the T20I series concluding in the first week of September.

The tour will mark return for Pakistan cricket in international arena after the brief hiatus due to the pandemic.