England’s white-ball squads have been forced to self-isolate two days before the start of their One-Day Internationals (ODI) series against Pakistan following seven positive Covid-19 tests among the team’s players and management.
Taking to Twitter, senior sports journalist Faizan Lakhani also shared the news about the positive cases in the white-ball squads of the hosts.
As per details, three players and four members of management have tested positive for Covid. “In collaboration with Public Health England, Public Health Wales and Bristol Local Health Authority, those impacted will now observe a period of self-isolation from July 4 following the UK Government’s protocol on quarantine,” an English Cricket Board (ECB) statement said.
“The remaining members of the party have been deemed close contacts and will also isolate.”
The ECB confirmed that the limited-overs series against Pakistan will go ahead as planned, with Ben Stokes due to return to international duty ahead of schedule and captain the squad.
ECB’s chief executive Tom Harrison, said: ”We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of biosecure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak. We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.”
“Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to captain. We also recognise the impact this news will have on our first-class counties and their men’s playing squads and thank them, along with our partners Sky and Royal London, for their ongoing support in dealing with this pandemic.”
A lot of players taking part in the ongoing County Championship have already been informed to report for national duty. They will be allowed to join the squad and the bio-secure bubble after negative Covid-19 Tests.
The official announcement of the new squad is expected to be made at 3pm Pakistan Standard Time.
