Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan tests positive for COVID-19

Former Pakistan cricket team’s captain and the country’s current Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19. The news was announced by Dr. Faisal Sultan, Khan’s aide on health. Sultan took to Twitter to state that the Pakistan PM has contracted the dreaded virus and was self-isolating at home. Incidentally, Khan has tested positive just two days after he received his first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Khan was vaccinated as part of the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination campaign which is currently in its first phase in the country. After taking the vaccine, Khan had appealed to his country to ensure compliance with all standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of Covid-19 amid an intensifying third wave.

On Friday (March 19) he had paid a visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he toured Malakand University and inaugurated a new academic block and addressed a gathering of students, according to Pakistani media. Khan also visited the Swat Motorway, where he inaugurated the Swat Expressway Tunnels. Meanwhile, cricket fans around the world and Khan’s compatriots have been wishing him a speedy recovery since the news of his diagnosis became public.

One of the greatest to play for Pakistan

Imran Khan is one of the greatest-ever players to have represented Pakistan. He is also one of the finest all-rounders in the history of cricket. Khan made his debut in international cricket in 1971 and brought down curtains on his illustrious career in 1992. He hanged his boots after guiding Pakistan to their first and till date only ODI World Cup title.

Pakistan had managed to win just one of the first five matches in that tournament before Khan motivated his men to bounce back and go all the way. The Men in Green have not been to lay their hands on the World Cup till date. Khan represented Pakistan in 88 Tests and scored 3,807 runs with the help of 6 centuries and 18 fifties. With the ball, he picked up 362 wickets in Test cricket.  In ODIs, he played 175 matches and scored 3,709 runs in addition to picking up 182 wickets.