The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and England-Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are likely to postpone the Rawalpindi Test after several English cricketers were unwell after a virus swept through the England camp.
“The PCB and ECB are in discussions regarding the start of the 1st #PAKvENG Test as some players in England have been infected with the virus. The PCB continues to monitor the situation, is in contact with the ECB and will provide further updates on the schedule period. ,” PCB tweeted.
According to the report, on Wednesday, only five England players — Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope and Joe Root — turned up for training at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. While rest squad members, including captain Ben Stokes, stayed at the team hotel.
“As far as I know, there are some guys who don’t feel 100%,” India Today quoted Root as saying, adding, “I didn’t feel great yesterday and I woke up a lot better today. So hopefully it’s a 24-hour virus. Don’t think it’s like food poisoning or COVID or anything like that.”
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Root said, “We are trying to do everything right to make sure we are ready for this game.”
Earlier, the Brits have named their starting 11, with Liam Livingstone making his debut, while Ben Duckett will open alongside Zak Crawley.
England are set to play in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005.
After receiving feedback from the players who visited Pakistan in September-October for the seven-match T20 series, England hired a chef for the tour.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam wishes the English players a speedy recovery. “I hope they recover soon. We want to face a full-strength England tomorrow,” he said.
