Ahead of 1st Test vs Pakistan, Australia spin-bowling consultant Fawad Ahmed tests Covid positive

The Australian cricket team which is set to play its first Test match on the Pakistani soil in 24 years was in for a shocking news as Fawad Ahmed, who was roped in as the Kangaroos’ last-minute spin consultant for the subcontinent challenge, tested positive for Covid-19. The news jeopardized the visitors’ plan for the first Test in Rawalpindi starting on Friday, March 4. The news comes in the wake of Australia dismissing David Beakley, the team’s physio who was popular with the cricketers.

It was reported that Ahmed, who is Pakistan-born but had a brief international career playing for Australia, would isolate himself for five days after contracting the virus. The man tested positive after posting a picture of sitting next to Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

What kept the Australian team management assured is that Fawad isolated himself after arriving from his commitments in Pakistan Super League (PSL) which concluded recently and had not interacted with either the players or the staff members. The 40-year-old was hired by Cricket Australia (CA) to replace Sridharan Sriram, the team’s usual spin consultant from India who is not present in Pakistan.

Fawad had no contact with Australia players

Fawad reached the Australian team hotel in Islamabad on Monday, February 28, after completing a stint with Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. He was not present in Australia’s training sessions on Wednesday, March 2, and was expected to start his work during the first Test.

The plans now undergo a change as Ahmed will remain isolated during the first match and the visitors will remain without a specialist spin consultant during the game.

A statement issued by CA said, “Team medical staff ensured Fawad isolated on his arrival at the hotel and he then returned the positive test after showing mild symptoms.”

“He will remain isolated for at least five days – as per government regulations – and will only come out of that isolation after he returns two negative tests and is symptom-free,” it added.

The Australian players were also made to undergo the Covid test and they returned with negative results on Wednesday.

Covid infections have remained a major challenge for the historic series as Pakistan’s Haris Rauf has also tested positive and the pictures shared by Ahmed suggest that Afridi could also contract the disease next.

Australia last toured Pakistan for a Test series way back in 1998 and this time, the two teams will contest for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy named after the legends Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir.