PCB completes first vaccination phase for players, staff

Pakistan Cricket Board has successfully completed the first phase of its COVID19 vaccination drive in collaboration with Pakistan government's National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

During this phase, Pakistan's leading cricketers across all three formats and support staff were vaccinated. The PCB takes pride in being one of the first cricket boards in the world to provide a robust vaccination programme to ensure the health and safety of its players and support staff in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first phase, 57 men players, 13 officials of the men's team and 13 NHPC men and women coaches were vaccinated. A number of franchise players and support staff besides PCB match officials involved in the FebruaryMarch phase of the HBL Pakistan Super League (three match referees, three umpires) were also vaccinated.

The vaccination drive started on 4 March in Karachi and carried on for more than two months, before its conclusion on 6 May when eight players part of Pakistan's squad for the ongoing Test series against Zimbabwe - were given second doses in Harare.

In the remaining

next phase, domestic men cricketers, national women cricketers, age-group cricketers and support staff of the domestic, national women and age-group teams will be vaccinated. The secondphase is expected to commence shortly.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer said here on Friday: "The PCB has a duty of care towards its cricketers, especially in the ongoing pandemic, and keeping that in mind we requested the NCOC for vaccines during the HBL Pakistan Super League 6.