Former Pakistan batsman turned commentator Ramiz Raza has taken an indirect dig at the England Cricket Board (ECB) for maintaining double standards in tacking the COVID situation. Raja said that the western countries need to start acknowledging the subcontinent and their commitment to the game.
He pointed out that despite seven personnel from the England team testing positive for the novel coronavirus, the Pakistan team has decided to stay back and continue with their white-ball tour. England were forced to name a completely new squad for the ODI series against Pakistan as all the members from the squad which played against Sri Lanka had to go undergo mandatory 10-day isolation.
The English team had left a tour of South Africa midway last year when COVID-19 had breached through the South African team bubble. However, in a similar circumstance this time around, Pakistan decided to stay back and continued with the England tour.
“England team suffer at the hands of COVID yet Pakistan team stays. South Africa had one player with symptoms of covid in Dec and England chose to leave quoting mental challenges. West needs to acknowledge the spirit of the subcontinent and commitment to the game… nahin?? (isn’t it?)," he asked on Twitter.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is satisfied with ECB’s arrangements after the COVID scare.
“The PCB is satisfied by the assurances and guarantees provided by the ECB on behalf of its medical panel, and feels comfortable with the existing protocols that have been put in place to ensure all the Pakistan players and player support staff remain safe and secure throughout the duration of the series, which commences on Thursday, July 8, in Cardiff," the PCB said in its official statement.
“The PCB has also been in touch with its team management and has advised them to exercise extra caution while in the hotel or at the match venue," it added.
Meanwhile, the new-look England team will be led by Ben Stokes with as many as 9 uncapped players in the 18 member squad. Three of the English cricketers and four support staff tested positive for COVID-19 just 48 hours before the commencement of the first game and the whole squad which were supposed to take on Pakistan has gone into isolation. The three-match ODI series commences from 8 July (Thursday) with the final match of the tour slated to be played on 20th July.