The first Test of the historic Test series between England and Pakistan may get postponed by a day or two after 13 to 14 members of England team and staff got ill in the last 24 hours. Former England skipper Joe Root on the eve of the Test addressed the media and admitted that there are discussions around possible postponement of the Rawalpindi Test.
"There's going to have to be Marcus Trescothick, Rob Key and Brendon McCullum as the new top three for tomorrow," Root joked in response to the obvious question everyone was looking for an answer to. "As far as I'm aware there are a few guys not feeling 100 percent but - 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.
"I think it's just one of those things that we've unfortunately picked up as a group - we've tried to do absolutely everything, we've prepared really well for this game and sometimes life throws things at you but we'll do everything we can to be right tomorrow and be right and ready to go."
Asked if he believed everyone will be fit for selection come Thursday morning, Root said: "It's hard to say, I've not seen anyone this morning, we've literally got straight on the bus so the guys will do everything we can to be right in that aspect, so time will tell really."
Meanwhile, England Cricket wrote on Twitter, “We are in discussions with the PCB regarding the start of the first Test due to a viral infection within our camp.”
Earlier in the day, Root turned out for the practice session as well with few other players. On being asked about whether he would once again take the responsibilities of the captain if Ben Stokes is fit, he backed Ollie Pope to take up the role.
"No, I don't think so," he said. "Ollie Pope did it the other day and he'd do a great job, so we'll see. Hopefully it isn't a conversation we need to have.
"It is frustrating. Today is generally an optional session anyway, so a few of the guys wouldn't have come in anyway. There is not much you can do, other than try to do the right things and hydrate yourself, and do the things away from the game that will serve you well overnight in preparation for tomorrow.
"It is where we are at as a team. Sometimes this happens, and when we're all tight together in the same hotel, then it can spread around. "We've done what we can to try and mitigate that, and we'll see how we shape up tomorrow. It is part and parcel of being on tour. Sometimes these things get thrown at you and that is why you have 15 guys here, so in case of injury or illness you are ready to go."
Earlier, England had named their playing XI for the Rawalpindi Test announcing that Liam Livingstone will make his Test debut.
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, Jimmy Anderson