Australia-Zimbabwe ODI cricket series postponed again
Six Pakistan cricketers cleared of COVID-19
MELBOURNE, Australia, June 30, (AP): Zimbabwe’s one-day international cricket tour of Australia was postponed again because of the coronavirus.
The three-match tour was originally scheduled for June, then put off to August, with venues to be determined. But Cricket Australia said it and Zimbabwe Cricket agreed to postpone the series indefinitely.
“The boards ... have come to the mutual conclusion due to a combination of factors including: the short length of the series, the significant bio-security measures that would need to be implemented prior to August, and concern for the health and safety of players, match officials, and volunteers,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Six Pakistan cricketers are eligible to join the team in England after their second COVID-19 test came out negative after first testing positive, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Tuesday.
Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman, allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, legspinner Shadab Khan, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowlers Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hasnain were tested negative for COVID-19 for the second time in three days.
The PCB said that all the six players were retested on Monday, following a first negative test last Friday. The cricket board will now make arrangements to fly out these six cricketers to England and the PCB said players’ “departure details will be shared in due course.”
Pakistan’s 20-member squad left for England on Sunday to play three test matches and three Twenty20s in August and September. The team is in Worcestershire where it will complete a 14-day isolation period on July 13.
Ben Stokes will likely captain England against the West Indies in the first cricket test next week as regular skipper Joe Root is expecting his second child.
Root would normally rejoin the team at his earliest convenience, but first he would have to go back into isolation for a week. The test in Southampton starts in 10 days, July 8. As vice-captain, Stokes is ready and willing to step up temporarily, adding to an already crowded list of responsibilities he enjoys as England’s primary allrounder and talisman.
“I’m not one of those people that people would necessarily associate as being the next England captain,” he said on Monday. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity. But being a captain has never been a real goal, it’s just about winning.
“It’s a huge honor to think about. At the same time, I know I’m only stepping in to take over for one game because of Joe’s personal situation.”
Stokes’ first act as skipper could be leading England in a gesture of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The West Indies will wear the BLM symbol on their shirts throughout the series and discussions are ongoing about how England can show unity with the cause.
“We are having discussions, and we’re also having discussions with (West Indies captain) Jason Holder,” Stokes said.
“It would be great to be able to do something as Team England and Team West Indies and showing our support together.
“In terms of anything crystal clear, we’re not there yet. It’s great that two teams are wanting to work together to be able to show support for Black Lives Matter.”
England is living and training in Southampton in strict isolation, and begin a three-day squad match at the Ageas Bowl from Wednesday.
❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ❑ ❑