Daily Times

Spin bowler Kashif Bhatti on Thursday become the first member of the national team to test positive for Covid-19 following tests conducted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

According to local reports in Pakistan, Kashif Bhatti has entered self-isolation after testing positive for the dreaded virus. As per a report in Cricketpakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is waiting for the report on the player from England Cricket Board (ECB).

The group was retested in England where Kashif Bhatti’s result came positive. It is pertinent here to mention that the COVID-19 test of the left-armer, which was conducted for airline travel, had also come negative.

Meanwhile, the PCB also notified that Harris Rauf, who previously tested positive for coronavirus, is now recovering and his recent COVID-19 test also came back negative. The PCB said that if he tests negative for the virus again, the right-arm quickie will be eligible to join the rest of the squad in England.

“The player had returned a positive test result for the remnants of a previous Covid-19 infection and in consultation with Public Health England and a virologist, a safety-first approach was taken to isolate the player,” an ECB spokesperson said. “The player has now returned a second negative test with no risk of infection to other players and staff.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Haider Ali, Imran Khan Sr. and Bhatti, along with a masseur Malang Ali, had departed for England after testing negative for COVID-19 in back-to-back tests.