Pakistan’s Hafeez says second coronavirus test result negative

KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez said Wednesday that a second test he commissioned himself proved he didn’t have coronavirus, a day after the country’s cricket board said he was one of seven players who had officially tested positive.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Hafeez was one of ten players and tour staff who tested positive for the virus this week ahead of the squad’s departure for a series of matches in Britain.

Hafeez, described by officials as asymptomatic , like the rest of those who tested positive, said he had immediately arranged a private second opinion. “I personally went to Test it again along with my family and here I along with my all family members are reported Negative,” he tweeted.

Besides Hafeez, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Kashif Bhatti were diagnosed Tuesday as having the virus pathogens.

Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Haider Ali, and a team massage therapist, tested positive on Monday. Board officials have said all players and support personnel who already passed as fit would be tested again on Thursday. The entire squad will be also be tested again when they arrive in Britain on Sunday. Despite the cases, both the PCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board insist next month’s tour will go ahead. Pakistan will play three Tests and three T20Is, with the first Test in Manchester starting August 5.

NO POSITIVE COVID-19 TESTS FOR ENGLAND

LONDON: England’s 30-man training group for the upcoming threeTest series against West Indies in July returned no positive tests for COVID-19, the ECB said on Wednesday. The ECB said that a total of 702 tests were conducted from June 3-23 on players and match officials plus ECB, venue, hotel and support staff, with all of them negative. Fast bowler Jofra Archer has been delayed in joining the squad after he had a precautionary test when a member of his household felt unwell last weekend.