Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez’s COVID-19 test came out negative just a day after he was found positive for the deadly virus.
The turn of events have left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) embarrassed and the organisation has now accused the cricketer of violating protocols ahead of the team's highly-anticipated tour of England.
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Hafeez was among the 10 Pakistani players, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday (June 23). The team is due to leave for England on Sunday (June 28) for a Test and T20I series in August.
However, Hafeez on Wednesday (June 24) took to Twitter and clarified that he and his family members have tested negative and also shared the medical report to back his claim.
"After Tested positive COVID-19 acc to PCB testing Report yesterday, as 2nd opinion & for satisfaction I personally went to Test it again along with my family and here I along with my all family members are reported Negetive Alham du Lillah. May Allah keep us all safe," Hafeez tweeted.
After Hafeez’s tweet, PCB CEO Wasim Khan said the board is very disappointed with the veteran campaigner.
"I spoke to Hafeez today and I made it clear to him our disappointment at the way he had handled this entire affair," Khan told the Cricket Baaz YouTube channel.
The PCB official added that the proper protocol for Hafeez was to inform the board first.
"As an individual, he has a right to take a private test but he should have spoken to us first because he created a problem for us," he said.
On whether disciplinary action will be taken against him, Khan said options are being considered on what could be done further in the matter.
"This is not the first time that Hafeez has breached our rules in the media. He doesn't have a central contract but once he was selected for the Pakistan team he has to abide by the rules and regulations for all players especially pertaining to the use of social media," he said.
"We are still looking at the matter because it has caused us a lot of problems," he added.
Wahab Riaz, Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Haris Rauf were the other nine players who tested positive on Tuesday.
Notably, all of them prior were asymptomatic prior to testing.
"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," the PCB had said in a statement.
(With PTI inputs)
