7 more Pakistan cricketers test +ve for Covid-19 before England tour

Islamabad: Seven more Pakistan cricketers tested positive for Covid-19, ahead of the team's departure for England, taking the total to 10, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed on Tuesday.

Players who tested positive on Tuesday are Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz.

On Monday, three Pakistani cricketers Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Apart from the seven players, a support personnel named Malang Ali (masseur) also tested postive for Covid-19. 

"Like Haider, Haris and Shadab none of the seven players and masseur had reported any prior symptoms of Covid-19 until they underwent first round of testing on Monday ahead of the side's departure for Manchester,'' the PCB said in a statement.

"The PCB medical panel is already in contact with these players and the masseur, who have been instructed to observe strict quarantine at their homes for their and their families' well being,'' it added.

Pakistan had named a 29-member squad for the tour of England set to start in August but the positive cases have put the availability of players in doubt.

However, PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said that the tour of England will go ahead as scheduled despite ten players testing positive for Covid-19 and officials would now assemble in Lahore and another round of tests would be carried out on June 25 and a revised squad would be announced the next day.

''The tour to England is very much on track and the side will depart as per schedule on June 28. Fortunately, all the first-choice red-ball squad, barring Mohammad Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training and practicing immediately after they have been tested and given the all clear when they arrive in England,'' he said.

Pakistan will play three Tests and three T20Is during their tour of England.(UNI)