In a big development to the Rawalpindi Test between Pakistan and England, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have jointly decided to not make any changes in the first Test commencement as it will be played on December 1 (Thursday) as it was earlier scheduled to be played despite virus turmoil which marred the English camp on Wednesday.
The ECB has informed the PCB that they are in a position to field an XI, and, as such, the first #PAKvENG Test will commence as per schedule today (Thursday, 1 December) at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Earlier, PCB and ECB released a joint statement late on November 30 (Wednesday) pertaining to the start of the first Test between Pakistan and England after more than half of the England team was marred by a virus. Close to 13 to 14 members of the touring team are affected by the illness, with around half of that number members of the playing squad. Ben Stokes is among those affected, and it is believed to be a bug or virus rather than Covid. The first of three Tests will take place in Rawalpindi.
“There's obviously a few guys not feeling 100%,” Root told media, adding that he didn't feel good yesterday but woke up lot better on Wednesday before coming for the training at the stadium.
“It's nothing like food poisoning or COVID … I think it's just one of those things that we've unfortunately picked up as a group. We try to do absolutely everything right to make sure we're prepared really well for this game.
“Sometimes you just pick up a virus and when you're all tied together in one, I tell you, you can spread it out. We did everything we can to try and mitigate that, but you have to see how things go tonight and tomorrow.” England team spokesman Danny Rueben said several staff members of the England contingent have also been affected by the virus.
Stokes had named his nominal starting XI for the match, including handing a debut to Liam Livingstone and a first Test recall since 2016 for Ben Duckett, but his plans could be forced to change due to illness.
Meanwhile, the symptoms of those affected are not related to Covid-19 and the hope is there will be a recovery within 24 hours.
England have not named an official vice-captain during Stokes’ reign as skipper, though Pope led the team in Stokes’ absence in a warm-up game against England Lions last week.
The Test will be England’s first in Pakistan in 17 years after they halted touring the country following an attack by gunmen on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.
England first returned for a T20 series in September and November, winning 4-3.
Pakistan's squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood.
England's squad: Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Joe Root, James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Rehan Ahmed.
