The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed three players – Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan – have tested positive for Covid-19. The players had shown no symptoms until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday ahead of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s tour to England.

The PCB medical panel is in contact with the three who have been advised to immediately go into self-isolation.

Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari, also screened in Rawalpindi, have tested negative and, as such, will travel to Lahore on June 24.

The other players and team officials, barring Cliffe Deacon, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis, underwent tests at their respective centres in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar on Monday. Their results are expected at some stage on Tuesday, which will also be announced by the PCB through its usual channels.

Dampens hopes of young stars

Haider Ali, the Pakistan U19 batsman and one of the players to watch-out for, had been named in a 29-player squad for three Tests and three T20Is against England to be played in August-September.

Haider had an outstanding 2019-20 season, following which he earned an emerging contract for the 2020-21 season.

Haris Rauf, who made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut against Bangladesh in January this year, has played in two seasons of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and was one of the best performers for Melbourne Stars, in Big Bash League (BBL) season nine, with 20 wickets to his credit.

Meanwhile, Shadab Khan has been one of Pakistan’s finest leg-spinners, to come through the ranks, in the recent past. He was also the captain of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United in the, now suspended, fifth edition of the event.

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