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England have announced a different squad for the upcoming limited-overs series with Pakistan after their original group was ruled out of action after seven members tested positive for Covid-19.
On Monday evening, July 5, PCR tests were administered in which three players and four of the management tested positive, forcing the senior into isolation.
The first ODI is on Thursday in Cardiff, live on Sky Sports Cricket, and will still go ahead with a new squad.
The managing director of England men’s cricket, Ashley Giles, said: “It’s a great opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and for most of the players selected it’s not necessarily something they would have been expecting 24 hours ago.
“We’re in unprecedented territory, in terms of replacing an entire squad and management team, and I’m very proud of how everyone has come together in order to get it done – both those within the ECB and from the county game.
“Ben hasn’t captained our ODI side before so it’s a huge honour for him. We all wish him well and it’s a role I’m sure he’ll thrive in. I’d like to also put on record the thanks of the ECB to the PCB for their support and understanding during this time.”
Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive officer, added: ‘‘We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak. We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.”
