Inzamam slams ‘really bad attitude’ of PCB medical staff

Former Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its medical staff for not looking after its players, after ten players tested positive for novel coronavirus (Covid-19) ahead of England tour.

While speaking on his official YouTube channel, the Pakistan batting great claimed that the PCB’s medical staff is not paying attention to players, who tested positive, despite this difficult time.

“The players who have tested positive would have thought that PCB is not supporting them at this difficult time,” said Inzamam. “My sources have told me that the PCB’s medical staff did not attend calls of these players during the past couple of days, which is a really bad attitude.”

“I would request the PCB to properly look after these players because if you don’t then incidents, like Hafeez getting himself tested privately, will happen,” he added.

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He also urged the PCB to keep the players at the National Cricket Academy, in Lahore, rather than asking them to self-isolate at their homes.  

“PCB should have kept these players [who tested positive] at the NCA, because there is enough space there, rather than telling them to self-isolate at their homes. They are our players and we need to look after them so that they can fully recover,” he said.

Following the announcement on Monday that three players had tested positive for Covid-19, the PCB on Tuesday confirmed that a further seven players and a player support personnel from a total of 35 have tested positive for Covid-19.

Players who have tested positive:

Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Haider Ali, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf.

Player Support Personnel who has tested positive:

Malang Ali (masseur)

Pakistan will depart for England on June 28 from Lahore to Manchester through a chartered flight.

According to the tentative schedule, the first Test will be played on August 5 in Manchester. Pakistan will play the remaining two games in Southampton, starting on August 13 and 21 respectively.

Pakistan will also play three Twenty20 internationals in Southampton on August 29, 31 and September 2.