Pakistan contingent to be tested twice for coronavirus
The Pakistan touring party will be tested twice for COVID-19 in the space of three days before leaving for England. According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sources, the two tests will be taken on Monday and Wednesday respectively before the cricketers assemble in Lahore for departure. Reportedly, the special charted flight will carry the Pakistan contingent on June 28. Here is more.
The first test will be taken in respective areas
The initial test will be taken in players' respective areas of residence. "The first test will be taken in players' and officials' respective cities and areas of residence," the source said. "The players will assemble in Lahore on Wednesday and the Board has arranged for a bio-secure floor for them in a five-star hotel where they'll stay in isolation before taking the chartered flight."
Players will be tested in Lahore
The source added the second test will be taken in Lahore. If any player or official tests positive for COVID-19, he will not travel to England. In that case, the players who have been included in the reserves list, shall step in as replacement. Previously, PCB named Bilal Asif, Imran Butt, Musa Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz as reserves for the tour.
PCB set to sign MoU with England cricket board
The PCB is expected to sign a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday, which outlines the terms and conditions for the tour which will last until September.
Families won't accompany players, officials during England tour
Previously, PCB barred families of players and officials to travel alongside the contingent in the tour. The step was taken as a part of precautionary measures in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the touring party is required to spend 14 days in quarantine prior to the Test series. Meanwhile, the three-match series is expected to begin on July 30.
Here is Pakistan's 29-man squad for England tour
Squad: Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (C), Babar Azam (C), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan, and Yasir Shah.
