England is scheduled to play a 3-match ODI and T20I series against Pakistan. But there have been 7 covid cases in the England cricket team just ahead of the series
The Covid-19 pandemic has struck the cricketing fraternity very badly. The crowd has been banned from the stadiums and the matches have been going on behind closed doors for quite a while now. Many tournaments and series’ were cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic.
The latest series getting affected by the covid-19 is the England vs Pakistan white ball series in England. The series is scheduled to start from the 8th of July at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. England and Pakistan are to compete in 3 ODIs and that many T20Is on this tour.
But just one day before the start of the series 7 members including 3 players from the English contingent have tested covid positive.
ECB Announces New Squad after England Cricket Team Covid Scare
The initially selected English squad and the staff members have been forced to be in isolation after 7 members were tested positive. 3 of them are the players but further details have been shared on this.
The English Cricket Board (ECB) immediately announced a new 18-member squad for the white ball series against Pakistan starting Thursday. 9 out of the selected 18 are uncapped players and it’s a great opportunity for them
Star all-rounder Ben Stokes will lead the side in this series. Stokes too will be returning after a long break due to a fractured index finger injury that he sustained during the Indian Premier League 2021.
England Squad For Pakistan Series
England Squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Phil Salt, John Simpson, James Vince.
Chris Silverwood will be the coach.
Managing Director of England Men’s cricket, Ashley Giles said that it’s a great opportunity for the selected players and they have been performing well in the domestic circuit for some time now.
He also thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their co-operation during this time.
“It’s a great opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and for most of the players selected it’s not necessarily something they would have been expecting 24 hours ago. It’s an exciting group of players, with some young talent and some players who have impressed at domestic level over a long period of time.”
“Ben hasn’t captained our ODI side before so it’s a huge honor for him. We all wish him well and it’s a role I’m sure he’ll thrive in.
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