After RT-PCR tests conducted on arrival in Pakistan, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has confirmed that four members of the Caribbean touring party have returned COVID-19 positive and will now undergo a period of self-isolation.

Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers, along with a non-coaching member of the team management unit tested positive in Karachi and will therefore be unavailable to participate in the upcoming Pakistan series.

All four members are fully vaccinated and are without major symptoms.

"Our arrival testing protocols in Pakistan have confirmed four (4) COVID-19 positives. These were confirmed whilst the players and staff were still in room isolation, so despite this significant setback to our preparation plans, we are confident that the tour can continue as everyone else returned negative PCRs prior to their arrival into Pakistan and two negative PCRs since they have been in Karachi," Johnny Grave, CEO of CWI, said in an official release.

"The risk of COVID-19 infection is impossible to remove completely from a cricket tour, in spite of the fact that many of our players have been living in bio-secure bubbles almost continuously since before the CPL. This unusual loss of three players from our squad will seriously impact our team preparations, but the rest of the squad are in good spirits and will begin training today ahead of our first game on Monday," he added.

All four individuals will remain isolated from the rest of the West Indies squad and are now under the care and supervision of the Team Physician, Dr Akshai Mansingh. They will remain in isolation for 10 days and until they return negative PCR test results.

The three-match T20I Series starts on December 13 in Karachi

(Inputs from Cricket West Indies)