Pakistan head coach and chief selector, Misbah Ul Haq, said it's getting increasingly difficult for pacer Haris Rauf to be able to join the team for the Test and the T20I series on the tour of England.
Rauf, whose fine performances in the previous edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia led to his international debut via the T20I series against Bangladesh earlier this year, has been consistently testing COVID-19 positive in Lahore.
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His latest positive test prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to advise Rauf to return home from the bio-secure environment created for players at a five-star hotel in Lahore, where the 26-year-old had stayed for the last two weeks.
Aware of the situation, Misbah said the team management felt it wise to call in left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir for the T20I leg. Amir had earlier opted out of the tour, anticipating it will clash with the birth of his second child, whose earlier than expected birth, however, meant the fast bowler could make himself available again. Amir was tested for Coronavirus on Monday (July 20) and will be re-tested in two days' time before travelling to the UK on hopefully turning out negative.
"Once Amir made himself available for the series, we informed the board that we would like him to join the squad and prepare for the matches," said Misbah in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over Twitter.
On Rauf, Misbah said: "it's unfortunate for us. Haris Rauf was part of our squad, but repeatedly, his tests are coming out positive. We were waiting for him if he could get better so as to have him available. But now it seems as if it is getting difficult day by day for Haris to be able to join the team in England."
Misbah also confirmed that back-up wicketkeeper batsman Rohail Nazir will be released from the squad once Amir arrives, considering first-choice glovemen Muhammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed are now fit and available.
"Rohail was included as a replacement after some players didn't clear the COVID tests earlier on but the good thing is that he has learnt a lot and got exposure remaining with the team in England," said the former skipper.
(Inputs from PTI)
