Australia spin consultant Fawad Ahmed tests positive for Covid-19

Fawad Ahmed, who was recently appointed as Australia's spin consultant for the Pakistan series, has reportedly contracted Covid-19.

The leg-spinner was part of title winners Lahore Qalandars as he was called up as a replacement for Afghanistan's Rashid Khan.

This development means that Fawad Ahmed will not be able to join the Australian camp as he will have to serve a five-day isolation period after returning positive for Covid-19.

Fawad Ahmed was hired in place for the team's usual spin consultant - Sridharan Sriram - who refused to travel to Pakistan.

Cricket Australia released a statement regarding Fawad's situation, which read:

"Team medical staff ensured Fawad isolated on his arrival at the hotel and he then returned the positive test after showing mild symptoms," read a CA statement.

"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," the statement read.

It further added: "Members of Australia touring party self-test regularly and undergo regular testing from external medical practitioners."

For Pakistan, this might be a problem as Fawad Ahmed is the second member of the Lahore Qalandars' camp to test positive after Haris Rauf was earlier also ruled out of the first Test.

Other members participating in the national team's Test side from Lahore Qalandars camp include star pace Shaheen Afridi.