'Unprofessional approach from PCB, players to blame for positive Covid-19 tests'

Former cricketer Rashid Latif has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and players for their unprofessional approach as they did not follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) during the pandemic.

Following the announcement yesterday that three players had tested positive for Covid-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday confirmed that a further seven players and a player support personnel from a total of 35 have tested positive for Covid-19. The PCB had organised these 35 tests in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar on Monday.

"Players who have tested positive were practicing outside together, so there was bound to be a problem. Unprofessional approach from PCB and players is to blame for these positive Covid-19 tests," said Latif on his YouTube channel.

"I also went to the ground for one day, but I maintained my distance with Rohail Nazir. You have to follow the protocols and keep distance," he added.

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Latif added that the selection committee must have already started deliberating over possible replacements for the players who tested positive for Covid-19.

"Selection committee must have started pondering over replacements. But those replacements have to be tested as well," he said.

The players and player support personnel, who have tested negative, will assemble in a bio-secure environment in Lahore on June 24 and will undergo second round of testing on June 25.

 Those, who will test negative on June 25, will depart for Manchester on a chartered flight. Within 24 hours after arriving in the UK, they will be tested by the ECB medical panel.