KARACHI: Two players from Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi have tested positive for coronavirus, three days before the seventh edition.
In a brief statement issued by the franchise, it was revealed that veteran wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and pacer Arshad Iqbal have contracted Covid-19 on January 21 and 22, respectively.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq and all-rounder Ammad Butt, from the reserve pool of players, have been allowed to join Zalmi as partial replacement for the aforementioned duo, the statement added.
Zalmi will play their opening match on January 28 against Quetta Gladiators. The Wahab Riaz-led outfit also participated in their first training session at the National Stadium in Karachi, today.
Last week, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that three cricketers and five members of the support staff from different franchises have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a statement, PCB’s Chief Operating Officer (CCO) Salman Naseer, who is also the tournament director of PSL, said that over 250 tests were conducted since Thursday and only eight people tested positive, including three players and five support staff members.
“As per latest results received, in over 250 tests conducted since Thursday, three players and five support staff members have tested positive and have been isolated,” Naseer said.
These tests, according to another official, were conducted at the time of the hotel check-in and all players and staffers were negative 48 hours prior to their arrival at the hotel.
The statement said that the players and officials who had tested negative have entered the biosecure bubble and they’ll be allowed to resume training from January 24 – after completing the isolation period and receiving two negative COVID-19 testing results.
