Despite ten Pakistani players testing COVID-19 positive, the tour of England is still "very much on track", said the Pakistan Cricket Board.
On Tuesday (June 23), Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz were tested positive, joining Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan, who were proven infected a day earlier.
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This put the three-Test and three-T20I trip the UK in August-September in serious doubt. However, the PCB in a media statement confirmed that the tour will go ahead.
"The tour to England is very much on track and the side will depart as per schedule on 28 June," PCB CEO Wasim Khan said. "Fortunately, all the first-choice red-ball squad, barring Mohammad Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training and practising immediately after they have been tested and given they are all clear when they arrive in England."
"In the meantime, Misbah-ul-Haq (head coach and chief selector) is reviewing the training schedule in England and is firming up plans for reserve players to be tested as a backup."
Players who have tested positive will be monitored by the PCB and they can join the squad as soon as they recover and test negative.
"As regards the players, who have tested positive, we will continue to monitor and support them, including conducting antibody tests, and as soon as they test negative, they will be flown to join the squad in England," Wasim said.
"At the moment, they have been advised to go into self-isolation so that they not only recover quickly but also prevent their other family members from being infected."
The board further stated all the 'next steps' it will be taking:
1. The players and player support personnel, who have tested negative, will assemble in a bio-secure environment in Lahore on 24 June and will undergo second round of testing on 25 June.
2. The players and player support personnel, who will test negative on 25 June, will depart for Manchester on a chartered flight. Within 24 after hours after arriving in the UK, they will be tested by the ECB medical panel.
3. The players and player support personnel, who will test negative upon arrival in the UK, will observe a quarantine period as per the UK government’s regulations, but will be allowed to train and practice in a bio-secure facility.
4. The players and player support personnel, who have tested positive in pre-departure testing, will observe self-isolation in their homes and remain under strict monitoring of the PCB medical panel.
5. As soon as they will complete their minimum quarantine period, they will undergo further testing and after their two tests are negative, they will be flown to England on a commercial airline.
6. Upon arrival in the UK, they will be tested again by the ECB medical panel and will be allowed to integrate with the Pakistan men’s national squad after they test negative.
7. According to series SOPs, the Pakistan men’s national cricket team will undergo, at least, five tests in the lead up to the first test.
