One Pakistan player tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of South Africa tour

The Pakistan Cricket team has been dealt with a massive blow as one player from the national squad tested positive for the novel coronavirus. On March 16, Tuesday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had conducted Covid-19 tests for all the cricketers who will be traveling to South Africa for a three-match ODI and T20I series, starting from April 2 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

While all squad members have tested negative, one player returned a positive result. The name of the player is unknown but it is revealed that the player has been asked to undergo self-quarantine and he will be undergoing another Covid-19 test at his residence on Thursday.

The cricketer will be eligible to travel to Lahore for the training camp if he returns a negative result but will have to undergo isolation for 2 days before being retested Lahore as the authorities aren’t willing to take any sort of risk this time with the main squad. Meanwhile, the players who had returned negative results will be traveling to Lahore on March 18, Thursday for the training camp that is scheduled at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

After the South Africa tour, the Pakistan team will be locking horns against Zimbabwe. The squads for both the tours were announced last week by the chief selector Mohammad Wasim. But it has sparked a controversy as it is learned that head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam aren’t happy with a few selections made for the National squad.

Babar Azam unhappy with team selection for the South Africa tour

The rumors of disagreement between the chief selector and Babar Azam have resulted in many former Pakistan players including Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar slamming the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other authorities for not taking the captain of the team into confidence and not considering the suggestions given by Babar Azam.

“The important thing is that team is selected with consultation and I have already said many times that the most important person is the captain. Chief selector and coach are not the most important people because they can’t go inside the ground and the captain who has to make the team fight inside he should have the confidence.

“Babar Azam is not impressed with the team selection and Mohammad Wasim is saying it’s not your concern. How can Mohammad Wasim say such a thing to Babar Azam?” Inzamam-ul-Haq said on his YouTube Channel.