Pakistan cricket team members Haider Ali, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, along with masseur Malang Ali and Mohammad Imran have been tested COVID-19 negative. Both the masseuse were tested negative on July 1 and July 4.
The five members are scheduled to join the team in the United Kingdom, which is currently training at Worcester for the upcoming three-match Test and as many T20I game series in England.
The first Test match between England and Pakistan which will be played at the iconic Old Trafford ground in Manchester from August 5 onwards.
“The three players and Malang will fly from Lahore on July 8 to join the Pakistan squad,” EspnCricinfo reported on Monday.
Earlier last month, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) received a major jolt after ten members of the touring party were found to be COVID-19 positive.
Subsequently, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Wahab Riaz were flown to the UK after being tested negative.
Thus, barring Haris Rauf, who remains asymptomatic, all other Pakistani cricketers are now tested negative.
Pakistan will play their first T20I at Headingley in Leeds on August 9. The action then moves to Cardiff in Wales, where the ‘Men in Green’ will lock horns with ‘The Three Lions’ on August 31 for the second T20I. Also, Pakistan team was slated to travel to the Netherlands and Ireland ahead of their UK tour, which has been postponed.
The third and the final T20I will be played at Southampton on September 2. Further, PCB has granted their veteran batsman Shoaib Malik to join the squad in late July, approving his break to spend time with his family in the UAE.
Before taking on Pakistan, England will host West Indies for a three-match Test series, starting July 8 at Southampton.
The Test match will mark the resumption of cricket after a four-month-long hiatus due to COVID-19.
