Hafeez in isolation after virus guideline breach

MohaMMad hafeez has been placed into self-isolation for a minimum of 24 hours by Pakistan after breaching the tourists’ Covid-19 regulations. The veteran all-rounder, who is in Pakistan’s expanded party for the three Twenty20 internationals that follow the ongoing behind-closed-doors Test series against england, was asked to remain in his hotel room at the ageas Bowl until returning a negative coronavirus test after being pictured with a member of the public yesterday. ‘Met an inspirational young lady today at golf course. She is 90+ & living her life healthy & happily. Good healthy routine,’ the 39-year-old Tweeted.

Although the sanction imposed appeared incongruous to the five-day periods served by West Indies coach Phil Simmons and england fast bowler Jofra archer — both of whom had to record two negative tests — when they left the bio-secure environment created by the eCB for international cricket this summer, in contrast hafeez did not leave the ‘bubble’ as the golf facility is within it. ‘as it was evident from the photograph that hafeez had breached the two-metre social distancing protocol and following a consultation process with the team doctor, the team management has decided to isolate him until he returns a negative Covid-19 test,’ read a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board. ‘The team management believes it was an inadvertent mistake, but a good reminder for everyone on the importance of following the bio-secure protocols, which have been designed for the health and safety of everyone.’ The development came a day after Kent’s teenage batsman Jordan Cox was axed from the Bob Willis Trophy match against Middlesex, starting on Saturday, after breaching coronavirus regulatons by having his picture taken with a young fan in the aftermath of scoring an unbeaten double hundred against Sussex.