DERBY: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has cleared Pakistan’s left-arm spinner, Kashif Bhatti, after he tested negative for the novel coronavirus and allowed to join the team.
The left-arm spinner, who is currently in England for the upcoming Test series, had contracted the coronavirus upon arrival in the United Kingdom and was under self-isolation.
According to a sports website, an ECB spokesperson informed that there was confusion over the initial positive test in the UK as it was probably the remnants of a previous Covid-19 infection. “The player was isolated as a safety-first approach,” he added.\
The spokesperson said that a follow-up test taken of the same player, which returned negative. Bhatti has tested negative for COVID-19 twice now.
The ECB spokesman said that the Pakistani player has been given permission to integrate with the squad after completing his isolation period.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sought an update from the ECB in this regard. PCB spokesperson said that Bhatti’s case fell under the jurisdiction of the English cricket board.
Bhatti departed for the series after two negative COVID-19 tests, and as per the PCB, tested negative again when he underwent another coronavirus test for the airline.
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