- Pakistan cricket team in South Africa to take four COVID-19 tests before heading to South Africa
- The series against South Africa begins with the one-day opening on April 2 in Pretoria.
- After the South African tour, the team will travel to Zimbabwe, where they will play two Tests and three T20Is against the Chevrons.
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani cricket team that plans to play T20Is and ODIs in South Africa next month will be tested for coronavirus four times before leaving for the series.
The first round of COVID-19 tests for the 35-ball squad is today (Tuesday).
Officials from Pakistan Cricket Board said the tests will be conducted at the cities of the players and officials. The squad will then gather in Lahore on March 18 for the second phase of coronavirus testing.
Read the coronavirus protocol that a Pakistani cricket team must follow before leaving for South Africa
The third and fourth rounds will take place on March 21 and 24 respectively, while the team will leave for South Africa on March 26, PCB officials said.
The series against South Africa begins with the one-day opening on April 2 in Pretoria.
“Squad members will only leave their homes once they have been negative. When they arrive at the short training camp in Lahore, the players as well as supporters will be tested again for Covid-19 on March 18, ”said a PCB official.
PCB plans to start national squad training on March 19th. However, the decision will depend on the approval of the Punjab government. The cricket board said it has reached out to the Punjab government in this regard. “Hopefully the government will allow us to keep the camp,” a PCB official said.
Officials noted that the Punjab government had banned sports activity in the province due to the growing coronavirus outbreak.
Pakistan plans to play three ODIs and four T20Is against South Africa between April 2 and April 16.
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After the South African tour, the team will leave for Zimbabwe, where they will play two Tests and three T20Is against the Chevrons.
A scheduled flight will take Pakistani cricketers from South Africa to Zimbabwe for the T20 and Test series. “As the Emirates Airlines have already canceled their flights to Harare, we have prepared for a special flight from South Africa to Harare and then from Zimbabwe to Lahore after the end. the tour, “said the official.