Pakistan’s cricket team tour to England now seems in jeopardy after three of its team members test positive for COVID-19. Others now await results. The team had been training to cover three test matches in August and were due to fly out this week. The whole team along with the support staff were tested.
Rawalpindi players test COVID-19 positive
As results show, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan are COVID-19 positive. All of them are from Rawalpindi. According to reports, they have the virus but are asymptomatic. However, the results of cricketers Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari came our as negative.
More cricketers are being tested regionally and are now awaiting results.
Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Haider Ali tested positive for Covid19.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 22, 2020
What will happen now?
The situation is unclear after the three players tested positive for coronavirus. The England tour now could be reconsidered or postponed depending on the reports of other team members.
Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan have been asked to self-isolate by the PCB and could join the tour at a later date. Meanwhile, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Amir have declined to tour.
According to the international media, England and Wales Cricket Board are waiting for the later’s results before they take any decision. If more players test COVID-19 positive then that could easily cancel the tour.
Cricket fans losing hope for the series
Cricket fans, in particular, are saddened by the news. Here’s how they are reacting.
So bad
— Mahaz Abbasi (@MahazAbbasi9) June 22, 2020
Haider Ali?
— Urooj Jawed (@JawedUrooj) June 22, 2020
So Now They Are not going to UK?
— Ahad Nawab خان) (@AhadNawabk) June 22, 2020
Sad news
— Sta Lewany (@StaLewany17) June 22, 2020
England may request our team to Stay Home & Stay Safe. Ghar baitho aaraam say. Hum cricket nahen khail rahay tum logon ko bohat chul pari hai.
— Usman (@osmanaalam) June 22, 2020
So now what do they get dropped or do they quarantine for 14 days and then join with Malik?
— Fatir N. (@Forever63notout) June 22, 2020
The final decision depends on the rest of the results and the cricket boards of both countries respectively. All we can do is pray for a speedy recovery of the players and hope that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) takes the right decision.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, all kinds of sports activities, including cricket, have come to a halt globally. Nonetheless, with no matches to play, the PCB had started a pushup challenge for the players. This challenge by PCB was an attempt to keep the players fit during the lockdown.
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