It seems like everyone getting tested is turning out positive for coronavirus. The sporting industry is no exception and just one day after us reporting two top tennis professionals contracting the disease, we have news of a whole bunch of Pakistani international cricketers also testing positive.
It’s not the best time for such news as we are just a couple of weeks away from resumption of international cricket, and this could be a big blow to that development. In fact, Pakistan was scheduled to tour England starting from 30 July and this news puts that tour in serious jeopardy as of now. However, officials have confirmed there aren’t any changes to the schedule, as of now.
Yesterday, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Haris Rauf tested positive for coronavirus, all three very young cricketers but Shadab being the most experienced from them. Today, seven more have tested positive which makes 10 current international cricketers right now. They were Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hasnain, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan.
Breaking – Seven more Pakistani cricketers test positive for COVID-19. Three were already infected. Pakistan’s England tour in serious jeopardy @news24tvchannel
Latest are – Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hasnain, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan
— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) June 23, 2020
This will come as a scare not just to Pakistan Cricket, but to the entire cricketing industry as these are core members of their white ball team. So far, not any of the test players have been affected, which prompted PCB to announce the tour will go on as usual. However, we’re not too sure ECB will want to have much to do with this.
The players were all tested as part of mandatory protocol ahead of the England tour and it’s surprising that none of them reported symptoms or bothered to get themselves checked before this mandatory check. Pakistan team’s masseur Malang Ali was also a member of the management who tested positive.
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“The tour is very much on track, squad will depart as per schedule on 28th. Fortunately, all first-choice red-ball players, barring Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training immediately after they are tested & given all clear when they arrive in UK,” said PCB CEO Wasim Khan. All we can say is that PCB is being rather optimistic about the situation.
They were scheduled to play 3 tests and T20Is in England but this will be a major setback to the tour. Currently, they’ve all been advised home isolation while bowling coach Waqar Younis and senior batsman Shoaib Malik are yet to be tested. For more updates on this situation and other cricketing news from across the world, you can stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
