Seven more Pakistani cricketers test positive for coronavirus

LAHORE: In a major blow, seven more Pakistani cricketers and a player support personnel have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.

According to the PCB CEO Wasim Khan, “Players who have tested positive are Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, and Wahab Riaz.”

Apart from the seven cricketers, a player support personnel – Malang Ali (masseur) – also tested positive.  A press release issued by the cricket board informed that Shoaib Malik, Cliffe Deacon, and Waqar Younis have not been tested yet.  

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’ wellbeing.

None of the seven players and masseur had reported any prior symptoms of Covid-19 until they underwent the first round of testing on Monday ahead of the side’s departure for Manchester.

Players who have tested negative are Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmad, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, and Yasir Shah.

Player Support Personnel who have tested negative are Mansoor Rana (manager), Misbah-ul-Haq (head coach), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Younis Khan (batting coach), Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Talha Butt (team analyst), Yasir Malik (strength and conditioning coach), Dr. Sohail Saleem (team doctor), and Lt Col (retd) Usman Riffat (security manager).

Read More: Three Pakistani players test positive for COVID-19

Earlier on Monday, The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that three Pakistan squad members for England tour, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan had tested positive for COVID-19.

The team is most likely to leave for England on June 28 on a chartered flight to be arranged by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the hosts of the series, comprising three Tests and as many T20Is, to be held in August and September.