Pakistan Cricket Board replaced Mohammad Rizwan with uncapped Rohail Nazir as their back-up wicket-keeping option for the England tour. The development comes after Rizwan was among the players to be contracted with the novel coronavirus. Rizwan, along with Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hasnain, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, and Imran Khan, has been tested positive.
The cricket board had stated that at least 3 players had tested positive after being asymptomatic while one of the support staff been tested positive. But Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, and Cliffe Deacon still remain to be tested.
Rohail Nazir is yet to make his debut for Pakistan. He had led the Pakistan U19 team in the recent U-19 World Cup. It is, however, likely that Sarfaraz Ahmed will keep the gloves in England with Nazir flown as a back-up option.
“Rohail Nazir named as back up wicket keeper by Pakistan for England tour after Mohammad Rizwan was tested positive for COVID19. Sarfaraz Ahmed was already part of the squad,” a GEO News journalist tweeted.
Rohail Nazir named as back up wicket keeper by Pakistan for England tour after Mohammad Rizwan was tested positive for COVID19. Sarfaraz Ahmed was already part of the squad.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) June 25, 2020
Despite the players being contracted with the virus, their board looks optimistic about the England tour. The tour is discussed to be organized in a bio-secure environment, and the Pakistan camp might decide for a few substitutes in these crisis situations.
Pakistan will tour England for a Test and T20I series, which will get underway from July 30 with the T20I series concluding in the first week of September.
