Covid hits West Indies ahead of Pakistan series

West Indies were hit with the COVID-19 pandemic just ahead of the limited-overs series in Pakistan. As many as four members (3 players and one from non-coaching staff) of the touring party have returned positive PCR tests after testing upon arrival in Pakistan.

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Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, all-rounder Roston Chase, batter Kyle Mayers, another unnamed member from the non-coaching staff have been identified as the four members who returned positive results. All these four members were said to have been fully vaccinated and were showing no major symptoms. The rest of the touring party have returned negative test results.

All the members of the West Indies contingent were still in room isolation when these tests were conducted and these four members are now isolated from the rest of the team. As per the quarantine protocols, they will now be self-isolated for a period of 10 days which implies all these players will most probably be out of both the T20I and ODI series in Pakistan.

"Our arrival testing protocols in Pakistan have confirmed four COVID-19 positives. These were confirmed whilst the players and staff were still in room isolation, so despite this significant setback to our preparation plans, we are confident that the tour can continue as everyone else returned negative PCRs prior to their arrival in Pakistan and two negative PCRs since they have been in Karachi," stated Johnny Grave, Cricket West Indies CEO.

"The risk of COVID-19 infection is impossible to remove completely from a cricket tour, in spite of the fact that many of our players have been living in bio-secure bubbles almost continuously since before the CPL. This unusual loss of three players from our squad will seriously impact our team preparations, but the rest of the squad are in good spirits and will begin training today ahead of our first game on Monday," added Grave.

The 3-match T20I series will be played from the 13th of December to 16th of December followed by a 3-match ODI series between the 18th of December to 22nd of December. All these 6 games are scheduled to be played at the National Stadium in Karachi.