PAK VS Eng: After seven tests for COVID-19, England will announce a fresh team to face Pakistan

After seven team members tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, England will name a fresh squad for the coming ODI series Pak vs Eng. The England Cricket Board announced that three players and four support staff members tested positive for COVID-19 (ECB).

Ben Stokes will now lead the team, while the majority of the players will be isolated. On Thursday, July 8, Pak vs Eng in the first One-Day International in Cardiff. Eoin Morgan, England’s captain, had previously stated that it would be premature to consider Stokes as a member of the starting XI. Due to an injured finger, the all-rounder has been out of the squad for a few weeks.

The rest of the new Pakistani team will be announced later on Tuesday.

ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison said, We have been preparing for this time, and we are cognizant that the development of the Delta variety, along with our move away from tight enforcement of bio safe environments, could raise the risks of an COVID-19.

We made a strategic decision to try to alter practices in order to assist the overall wellness of our players and management staff, who have spending much of the 14-month period living in extremely confined spaces.

We worked quickly overnight to choose a replacement squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes, who will resume his captaincy duties for England. We also understand the impact that this news will have on our first-class counties and their men’s playing teams, and we thank them, as well as our sponsors Sky and Royal London, for their continued assistance in combating the COVID-19.