Late decision on England Test match
ADECISION on whether England’s first Test on Pakistan soil for 17 years will start this morning will be made just two and a half hours before the game is due to begin.
Approximately 13 to 14 members of the touring party are affected by a viral infection with around half of them being members of the playing squad.
England had tried to mitigate the risk of issues in Pakistan and made additional preparations including hiring their own chef for the tour, but a number of the squad were still struck down and remained at the hotel instead of taking part in the final optional training session yesterday.
The decision has been made by both cricketing governing bodies, who issued a joint-statement which read: “The Pakistan Cricket Board and England and Wales Cricket Board discussed the outbreak of a viral infection in the England Test team camp and unanimously agreed to delay the decision on the commencement of the first Test.
“The two boards made the decision based on medical advice from the England doctors, which revolved around the players’ health and welfare, agreeing that the England cricket team are able to select an XI for the first of the three ICC World Test Championship matches.
“The two boards also agreed, subject to the England players not recovering well enough to take the field on Thursday morning, then the Test will commence on Friday and will be a five-day match. In this scenario, the schedule of the second Test in Multan and the third Test in Karachi will remain unaffected and will be played as per the original schedule, i.e., 9-13 and 17-21 December, respectively.”
Joe Root had earlier addressed the media in place of captain Ben Stokes, who was among those to have contracted the illness, but the former skipper remained upbeat over the chances of the game going ahead.
“As far as I’m aware, there are a few guys not feeling 100 per cent. I didn’t feel great yesterday but I woke up better today so hopefully it’s just a 24-hour virus and I don’t think it’s food poisoning or Covid or anything like that,” Root said.