Pakistan squad briefed on Covid-19 protocols for South Africa series

The Pakistan Shaheens' squad members were briefed about the Covid-19 protocols, prepared by the PCB's Medical Advisory Committee, for the home series against South Africa before their departure from New Zealand.

The players and support staff will undergo two Covid-19 tests on 13 and 16 January at their residence before the third test on 19 January, which will be conducted upon arriving at the center station to join the squad.

The squad members have been instructed to cover their faces with masks on flight and limit their physical contact upon arrival in Pakistan.

Dr Sohail Saleem, Director Medical and Sports Sciences and the chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, delivered the educational lecture to the Shaheens' players and he will also brief the men's national team about the protocols at the conclusion of the Christchurch Test.

South Africa will arrive in Karachi on January 16 and will play the first Test at the National Stadium in Karachi from January 26-30. They will then travel to Rawalpindi where the second Test will be held from February 4-8. The iconic Gaddafi Stadium, headquarters of Pakistan cricket, will be the venue of the three T20Is, which are scheduled for February 11, 13 and 14.

Upon arrival in Karachi and in the lead up to the first Test, South Africa will observe an isolation period following which they will hold training sessions and play intra-squad practice matches.

This will be South Africa’s first visit to Pakistan since the 2007 tour when they won the Karachi Test by 160 runs to clinch the series 1-0. The subsequent series in 2010 and 2013 were played in the United Arab Emirates.