PCB To Take Government Approval Before Staging A Training Camp Ahead Of The England Tour

Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] is planning to set-up a training camp for its player ahead of the tour of England, prior to which they will seek government clearance.

The top officials at the PCB are busy formulating a plan to ensure that the training camp sees the light of the day even as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Pakistan.

“Different plans are being looked at but the most important thing is that the board will have to get the final nod from the government before it goes ahead with the tour to England or even the training camp,” a PCB official told the Press Trust of India [PTI].

PCB is looking at the High-Performance Center in Lahore as the possible venue for the training camp but the fact that the center does not have the capacity to hold such a vast number of people is causing concern to the board.

“Head coach and chief selector, Misbah-ul-Haq understandably wants at least 25 players in the training camp and a list is being finalized but before it is announced the board wants to create a proper bio-secure environment at the high-performance center so that everyone is safe from COVID-19,” the official said.

PCB has left it on the players as far as participation in the England tour is concerned

Once the players enter the center for the training camp, they cannot go out because of bio-security measures. An official in the board told PTI that some players have told head coach Misbah Ul Haq that they would prefer a short training camp in Lahore.

“Some players are reluctant to stay away for a three-week period in Lahore and then again for more than two months in the UK,” the source said.

The board, meanwhile, has said that it has left it on the players as far as participation for the England tour is concerned. If any player makes himself unavailable then no disciplinary action will be taken against him.

This comes after former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad expressed his reservations against the tour considering the COVID-19 situation is far worse in the UK as compared to Pakistan.

‘I would be worried because the COVID-19 situation in the UK is worse than what it is in Pakistan. I just hope the board examines everything before sending the team to England because it would be a huge risk for the players,” Miandad said.

Pakistan is scheduled to tour England in late July where they’ll play three Tests and as many T20Is.

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