Story in brief
The first Test between England and Pakistan can be postponed after almost half teammates of the English playing side, including captain Ben Stokes, have been struck down via an unspecified virus in the afternoon. This incident happened just earlier than the match. The Pakistan cricket board stated on Wednesday that it became discussing subsequent steps with the England and Wales Cricket Board. “The PCB and ECB are in discussions concerning the 1st PAK Vs ENG Test as a few England players are down with a viral infection,” the board stated on Twitter.
“The PCB keeps to screen the situation, is in touch with the ECB, and could offer similar updates in due course.”
A functional event for the 2 captains to unveil the series trophy made postponed to an earlier day. This was in order to give Stokes time to recover. Former captain Joe Root informed newshounds that “some men have been feeling affected or sick cent percent,”
“It’s difficult to say, I have not visible absolutely everyone this morning,” he stated, adding: “I do not assume it is meals poisoning or Covid or something like that. It is simply one of these matters that we’ve regrettably picked up as a group.”
“I felt sick the day prior to this and wakened feeling an awful lot higher today, so with any luck it is a 24-hour thing.”
The British press had in advance pronounced that players have been affected by viral meal poisoning after the ECB issued a declaration announcing that “numerous players and workforce members, inclusive of England captain Ben Stokes, are feeling sick and were cautioned to live on the lodge to relax”.
ECB spokesman Danny Reuben later clarified that “13-14 of the squad members, inclusive of six to seven players are affected by an endemic. This isn’t associated with meal poisoning or Covid related”.
Root, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, and Keaton Jennings have been the players practicing on Wednesday. And coaching head Brendon McCullum became additionally in attendance. All the squad had practiced on Tuesday.
Lancashire all-rounder Liam Livingstone is about to make his test debut Thursday. Also, opener Ben Duckett had to recall for his first Test in six years. England is on their first Test tour of Pakistan after 17 years, following their Twenty20 side playing seven matches two months ago, clinching the series 4-3.
Problems with meals and players turning unwell at some point during the Twenty20 series brought about the chef, Omar Meziane. Omar has also worked with the England men’s soccer crew at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and at Euro 2020.
England and Pakistan will contest a three-Test collection with the second one in Multan starting December 9 and the third match in Karachi from December 17-21.
