A total of 244 test results are out, and results for 40-45 tests, all from one franchise, are awaited
One support staffer and two overseas cricketers, one of them from Islamabad United, at the PSL have tested positive for Covid-19 a day after the game between Islamabad and Quetta Gladiators had to be postponed following the update that Fawad Ahmed, the Islamabad legspinner, had returned a positive test. That game is being played today, and all players and others to have tested positive have been isolated.
A total of 244 test results are out, and while there are the three new positives, results for 40-45 tests, all for one franchise, are awaited. Rapid tests were carried out yesterday, and members of all franchises underwent another round of testing – the PCR test – and a special request had been made to process the results of the Islamabad and Quetta contingents first so that, if there is nothing too alarming, they can play their rescheduled game.
ESPNcricinfo understands that the PCB has internally agreed that the schedule will not be tinkered with as long as a team has up to five affected players, seeing that all teams have 18-member squads.
“We have a virtual meeting with franchise owners and team managements to give them the confidence, assurances, to take their support, reminding them of the protocols and the way forward,” PCB media director Sami ul Hasan said at National Stadium in Karachi on Tuesday. “The organising committee has already sent out a reminder to every stakeholder to exercise extra caution and nobody is told to go in self-isolation, just a caution that involves using face mask, avoid wandering on the hotel floor, and members who have tested positive will remain in ten days’ quarantine. And since yesterday, now PCR tests will be carried out every fourth day.”
More to follow…
Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent