The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday confirmed that three players - Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan – have tested positive for COVID-19. The results have hence put their participation in the impending England tour in doubt.
The players had shown no symptoms of contracting the virus until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday before the tour which is slated to begin in August. The three players were part of the white-ball fixtures in the England tour.
The three players have been asked to go into self-isolation and the PCB medical staff is in contact with the trio.
Besides the three, Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari were also tested in Rawalpindi, and their tests returned negative. The two have hence been allowed to travel to Lahore on June 24 where a second test and final test will be conducted before the tour.
Meanwhile, other players and team officials, barring Cliffe Deacon, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis, underwent tests at their respective centres in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar on Monday. The results of their tests will be announced on Tuesday. by PCB.
The Pakistan cricket squad will leave for England on June 28 to play three Tests and three T20Is. They will be quarantined in Derbyshire for a mandatory period of 14 days, although they will be allowed to practice.
The board picked a total of 29 players for the tour so that replacements are readily available in case a player falls ill or tests positive.
Pakistan cricketers have not played any competitive cricket since March 17 when PSL was suspended owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
