Pakistan Tour of England 2020

[ghazi52]

PM Imran gives nod for England tour

Pakistan are scheduled to play three Tests and three T20Is against England

News Desk in Karachi
15 June, 2020

PHOTO: File

The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, according to a local news channel, has granted the national men’s team of Pakistan permission to travel to England for their upcoming series.

The source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Chairman Ehsan Mani met the Prime Minister. The head of the PCB wanted to discuss matters related to international and domestic cricket with the Chief Patron of the board. The request for the meeting had been forwarded three weeks ago while the meeting was finally confirmed for Monday.

Pakistan is scheduled to take on England in three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), which will be played in August-September.

An extended squad, 29-member, including white-ball specialists, is being sent to England as the players, in accordance with series SOPs in the wake of Covid-19, will remain in England from start to finish.

In addition, Bilal Asif, Imran Butt, Musa Khan and Mohammad Nawaz will be available as cover in case any of the players fail pre-tour Covid-19 testing, which will be carried out on June 20 and 25.

The breakdown of the 29-player squad is:

Openers (4)

Abid Ali (Sindh, Lahore Qalandars), Fakhar Zaman (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lahore Qalandars), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan, Peshawar Zalmi) and Shan Masood (Southern Punjab, Multan Sultans)

Middle-order batsmen (9)

Azhar Ali (captain) (Central Punjab), Babar Azam (Test vice-captain and T20I captain) (Central Punjab, Karachi Kings), Asad Shafiq (Sindh, Multan Sultans), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haider Ali (Northern, Peshawar Zalmi), Iftikhar Ahmad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi Kings), Khushdil Shah (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Multan Sultans), Mohammad Hafeez (Southern Punjab, Lahore Qalandars), and Shoaib Malik (Southern Punjab, Peshawar Zalmi)

Wicketkeepers (2)

Mohammad Rizwan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi Kings) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (Sindh, Quetta Gladiators)

Fast-bowlers (10)

Faheem Ashraf (Central Punjab, Islamabad United), Haris Rauf (Northern, Lahore Qalandars), Imran Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab), Mohammad Hasnain (Sindh, Quetta Gladiators), Naseem Shah (Central Punjab, Quetta Gladiators), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Northern, Lahore Qalandars), Sohail Khan (Sindh, Quetta Gladiators), Usman Shinwari (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lahore Qalandars) and Wahab Riaz (Southern Punjab, Peshawar Zalmi)

Spinners (4)

Imad Wasim (Northern, Karachi Kings), Kashif Bhatti (Sindh), Shadab Khan (Northern, Islamabad United) and Yasir Shah (Balochistan, Peshawar Zalmi)

 

[ghazi52]

Flying Pakistan over:
ECB set to spend half a million pounds

News Desk in Karachi
12 June, 2020

PHOTO COURTESY: PCB

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is likely to spend around half a million pounds, inorder to fly Pakistan team over, through a chartered flight, ahead of three Tests and three Twenty20 International (T20I) series between the two sides — Daily Mail reported.

Initially, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was set to depart for England in the first week of July but the date was brought forward after the training camp in Lahore was cancelled due to increase in novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the country.

ECB are now chartering a plane at an earlier date, June 26-29 in all probability, to help Pakistan prepare adequately for the series.

Pakistan's tour of England is worth around £70m and £75m to the ECB in broadcast revenue, which is why the £500,000 for chartered flight is a manageable expense.

The PCB has already announced a 29-member touring party for England Tests and T20Is.

Players are likely to remain in quarantine for a two-week period, in Birmingham, before moving to Manchester for the first Test on August 5, the report added. The second and third Tests will take place at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, with three T20Is to be held between August 28 and September 1.

Trying to salvage lucrative men's internationals is the priority for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with chief executive Tom Harrison warning a complete wipeout of the 2020 season could cost the governing body £380 million ($469 million).

 

[alphapak]

Just imagine if England had to tour Pakistan in August-September? No
player would be ready to come. Pakistan should of avoided this tour
to keep the players safe.

Now that they have given the go ahead, the least they should do is to
ask ECB for a return of favour and tour Pakistan.

 

[ghazi52]

Misbah says no strings attached to England tour

LAHORE: Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq is adamant Pakistan’s upcoming tour of England amid the coronavirus pandemic is not dependent upon a return visit.

Next month international cricket is set to resume for the first time since the outbreak as England host the West Indies in a three-Test series staged behind closed doors.

Pakistan are also meant to play three Tests, as well as three Twenty20s, in a series scheduled to start on August 5, although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have still to confirm the dates.

Major international teams stopped touring Pakistan after Sri Lanka’s team bus was attacked by armed militants in Lahore in 2009 and, although some have returned recently, it is 15 years since England last visited the country.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt told ESPN Cricinfo on Friday a $3 million loan to CWI by the ECB in May, was not contingent upon his side touring England but rather a “helping hand” from one of the sport’s wealthiest major bodies to one of its poorest.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, who announced Friday a touring squad at a time when more than 50,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Britain, are also a financial minnow compared to the ECB.

But Pakistan chief selector and head coach Misbah, in a conference call on Saturday, rejected talk of a reciprocal arrangement.

START SOMEWHERE

“It is not in our minds that we are coming and keeping in view something that the ECB has to do for us in return,” he said.

“It is important for us to restart international cricket somewhere, get the players back on the ground. That is the most important thing at the moment.”

Nevertheless, looking to the longer term, the former Pakistan captain added: “Obviously, in a bigger picture, we are not expecting anything in return but overall, we want not just the ECB but all cricketing nations to help each other so this game can grow. It’s important for cricket fans in Pakistan and also for Pakistan cricket that countries start touring Pakistan.”

Meanwhile Misbah said Pakistan’s experience of playing ‘home’ games in the United Arab Emirates without the “energy” provided by fans would stand them in good stead for matches in England where there will be no spectators on health grounds.

“Nobody understands it better than us because we played much more cricket than any other team in the world with empty stadiums in the UAE,” he said.

“Obviously in a bigger picture, if we want to resume international cricket, we have to start it from somewhere.”

Misbah also wished Shahid Afridi well after his fellow former Pakistan skipper tweeted on Saturday he had tested positive for the illness.

“My prayers are with him, all well wishes with him that he gets out of this soon,” said Misbah.

“I think he was doing a lot of work in the area of Balochistan and the northern areas just to help the people. Throughout the COVID situation he was helping the poor, doing a very good job.”

 

[Sharma Ji]

Will this be played in empty stadiums or are they re-opening sporting events over there ?

 

[Arsalan]

Will this be played in empty stadiums or are they re-opening sporting events over there ?

Empty stadiums.

 

[Sharma Ji]

Empty stadiums.

Saurav Ganguly recently mentioned they may do the IPL in spectator less stadiums too.

viewing experience kirkira ho jayega I think, even for the TV audience.

sad times we live in.

 

[ghazi52]

Saurav Ganguly recently mentioned they may do the IPL in spectator less stadiums too.
viewing experience kirkira ho jayega I think, even for the TV audience.
sad times we live in.

Yes, we are.........

 

[ghazi52]

Shoaib Malik to join Pakistan team on July 24 in England

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Saturday gave special dispensation to Shoaib Malik by allowing him to join the national team in England on July 24 after spending time with his immediate family, whom he has not seen for nearly five months.

Malik’s wife, Sania Mirza, and one-year-old son, Izhaan Mirza Malik, have been in India, while Shoaib has been in Sialkot since the imposition of international travel ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unlike the rest of us, Shoaib Malik has not seen his immediate family for nearly five months due to his commitments and the subsequent international travel bans following the COVID-19 pandemic. As travel restrictions are now slowly easing out and there is an opportunity for a family reunion, it is appropriate that at a human level we show compassion as part of our duty of care and respect Shoaib’s request," PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said.

“We have spoken with the England and Wales Cricket Board who understand the situation and have agreed to make an exception by helping Shoaib enter the country on 24 July. Of course, Shoaib will follow the UK government’s policies on visitors entering the country before integrating with the side.”

The team will depart on June 28 June for Manchester, before driving to Derbyshire for their 14-day quarantine period during which they will be allowed to train and practice.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan vs England: Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan test positive for coronavirus

KARACHI: Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan have tested positive for coronavirus, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Monday.

The PCB, in a statement, said: "The players had shown no symptoms until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday ahead of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s tour to England."

The PCB medical panel is in contact with the three who have been advised to immediately go into self-isolation.

Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari, also screened in Rawalpindi, have tested negative and, as such, will travel to Lahore on 24 June.

"The other players and team officials, barring Cliffe Deacon, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis, underwent tests at their respective centres in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar on Monday," the statement read.

Their results are expected at some stage on Tuesday, which will also be announced by the PCB through its usual channels, the board said.

Haider, Rauf and Shadab's positive tests means they are highly unlikely to leave with the team for England. It remains to be seen if the PCB would name any replacements for the trio.

Pakistan's test and limited overs squads are set to tour England for three tests and three Twenty20 internationals. They were due to fly out later this month to quarantine themselves ahead of the first test on July 30.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammad Amir and batsman Haris Sohail pulled out of the tour on Thursday citing personal reasons.


Pakistan squad:

Abid Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (test captain), Babar Azam (T20 captain), Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imran Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Kashif Bhatti, Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan Vs England: PCB to ban social media usage for players to avoid any unpleasant event

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will reportedly ban usage of social media for players participating in the England series and has directed the team to steer clear of any such approaches and immediately report to Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) as soon as any corrupt individual tries to reach out to them through social media.

Pakistan is scheduled to play against England in three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), with the matches likely to take place between August 5 and September 1 in Manchester and Southampton.

During four separate lectures on Thursday, the board will inform the touring party on how to carry themselves in England and adhere to the strict tour guidelines issued by the authorities in order to avoid any unpleasant event during the tour.

Reportedly, bookies and match-fixers are trying to swindle players through sponsorship deals and offers. They might try to persuade players in the guise of representatives of team owners from different franchise tournaments and invite them to attend events and parties in order to trap them. These individuals might make use of fake names and untraceable numbers.

The national squad is also directed to spend most of their time in hotel rooms, in order to minimise the possibility of contracting the contagious coronavirus that has ravaged the world, in particular England, where more than 42,000 patients have succumbed to the virus.


The PCB's England-bound players and officials on Monday have tested for coronavirus in the first round of COVID-19 testing to ensure safe travel of the players in the England tournament scheduled in the coming months, Daily Jang reported.

According to media reports, the tests were carried out in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar. Following the first round, the second round of tests will be conducted on June 25.

Due to stringent protocols, PCB CEO Wasim Khan said that there will be no practice matches and that the team will have to resort to intra-squad games in a bid to prepare themselves.

"Because of strict protocols due to Covid-19, this time there would be no practice matches ahead of our series against England," he said.

"Our players will prepare for the Test series by playing matches within our squad. We would have 29 players available during the tour so they can have plenty of match practice by having 14-a-side games."

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan vs England: Tentative Tests, T20I series schedule


The Men in Green will depart for England on June 28 from Lahore to Manchester through a chartered flight

AFP
23 June, 2020

PHOTO: AFP


Pakistan is scheduled to take on England in three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), which will be played in August-September.

The Men in Green will depart for England on June 28 from Lahore to Manchester through a chartered flight.

Pakistan players will be subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival in England, as per current British government regulations.

The team will eventually practice in what officials are describing as a "bio-secure" environment.

First Test will be played on August 5 in Manchester. Pakistan will play the remaining two games in Southampton, starting on August 13 and 21 respectively.

Pakistan will also play three Twenty20 internationals in Southampton on August 29, 31 and September 2.




Tentative schedule of Pakistan, England series


Test Series

August 5-9: First Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

August 13-17: Second Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

August 21-25: Third Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton




Twenty20 International (T20I) series

August 29: First T20I at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

August 31: Second T20I at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

September 2: Third T20I at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Pakistan vs England: Tentative Tests, T20I series schedule


The Men in Green will depart for England on June 28 from Lahore to Manchester through a chartered flight

AFP
23 June, 2020

PHOTO: AFP


Pakistan is scheduled to take on England in three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), which will be played in August-September.

The Men in Green will depart for England on June 28 from Lahore to Manchester through a chartered flight.

Pakistan players will be subject to mandatory quarantine upon arrival in England, as per current British government regulations.

The team will eventually practice in what officials are describing as a "bio-secure" environment.

First Test will be played on August 5 in Manchester. Pakistan will play the remaining two games in Southampton, starting on August 13 and 21 respectively.

Pakistan will also play three Twenty20 internationals in Southampton on August 29, 31 and September 2.




Tentative schedule of Pakistan, England series


Test Series

August 5-9: First Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

August 13-17: Second Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

August 21-25: Third Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton




Twenty20 International (T20I) series

August 29: First T20I at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

August 31: Second T20I at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

September 2: Third T20I at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

I just heard that 10 players are tested positive?

Is that true?

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan vs England: Coronavirus deals significant blow as seven more cricketers test positive

KARACHI: The deadly coronavirus has dealt a major blow to Pakistan as seven more cricketers have tested positive, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan announced Tuesday, a day after three players of the national team had contracted the respiratory illness.

The national team has been rocked this week after 10 of its 29 England-bound players as well as the team masseur Malang Ali tested positive for the virus.

"Players who have tested positive are: Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan, and Wahab Riaz," the PCB CEO said in a video conference.

Apart from the seven players, one support personnel — the masseur — also contracted the illness after the cricket body had 35 tests carried out for COVID-19 in Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.

Shoaib Malik, Cliffe Deacon, and Waqar Younis have not been tested as of reporting time.

Khan, in this regard, said fittest athletes contracting the virus "clearly reflect the danger this virus possesses" and urged public to adhere to the safety and precautionary measures.

England tour 'very much on track'

“As regards the players, who have tested positive, we will continue to monitor and support them, including conducting antibody tests, and as soon as they test negative, they will be flown to join the squad in England," he said.

"At the moment, they have been advised to go into self-isolation so that they not only recover quickly but also prevent their other family members from being infected.

“The tour to England is very much on track and the side will depart as per schedule on 28 June. Fortunately, all the first-choice red-ball squad, barring Mohammad Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training and practicing immediately after they have been tested and given the all clear when they arrive in England

“In the meantime, Misbah-ul-Haq is reviewing the training schedule in England and is firming up plans for reserve players to be tested as a backup,” the PCB CEO explained.


Strict self-quarantine

"Player who have tested negative are: Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmad, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, and Yasir Shah," a statement issued Tuesday evening read.

Among player support personnel who tested negative were PCB Manager Mansoor Rana, security manager Lt Col (r) Usman Riffat, and media and digital content manager Raza Kitchlew, it added.

Coaches who tested negative included head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and his assistant Shahid Aslam, batting coach Younis Khan, spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed, fielding coach Abdul Majeed, and strength and conditioning coach Yasir Malik. The team's analyst, Talha Butt, and primary medic, Dr Sohail Saleem, also tested negative.

Those who have contracted the virus have been advised by the cricket body's medical panel to observe strict self-quarantine.


Further testing in UK

The PCB had earlier announced Monday that leg-spinner Shadab Khan, fast bowler Haris Rauf, and teenage batter Haider Ali had tested positive for COVID-19 despite showing no symptoms and would go into self-isolation. Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari had tested negative.

In its statement, the PCB also said the ones who tested negative "will assemble in a bio-secure environment in Lahore on 24 June and will undergo second round of testing on 25 June".

"The players and player support personnel, who will test negative on 25 June, will depart for Manchester on a chartered flight. Within 24 after hours after arriving in the UK, they will be tested by the ECB medical panel," it added, referring to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and observe a UK government-mandated quarantine period.

However, they would be allowed to train and practice in a bio-secure facility.

The players who tested positive "will complete their minimum quarantine period, they will undergo further testing and after their two tests are negative, they will be flown to England on a commercial airline".

 

[ghazi52]

I just heard that 10 players are tested positive?

Is that true?

True.