The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and England-Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may decide to postpone the Rawalpindi Test after a virus swept through the England camp and left several English cricketers unwell.
“The PCB and ECB are in discussions regarding the commencement of the 1st #PAKvENG Test as some England players are down with a viral infection. The PCB continues to monitor the situation, is in contact with the ECB and will provide further updates in due course,” PCB tweeted.
Only five England players — Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope and Joe Root — turned up for training at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The rest of the squad members, including captain Ben Stokes, stayed back in the team hotel.
“As far as I’m aware, a few guys are not feeling well,” Root said.
“I didn’t feel great yesterday and I woke up a lot better today. So hopefully it’s a 24-hour virus. Don’t think it’s like food poisoning or COVID or anything like that.
England have already named their starting 11, giving a test debut to Liam Livingstone and recalling Ben Duckett to open with Zak Crawley.
