England and Pakistan gamers are seen throughout a apply session in Rawalpindi. File
| Picture Credit score: AP
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The primary cricket take a look at between Pakistan and England will begin as scheduled on Thursday regardless of a number of England gamers having been in poor health on the eve of the match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board stated in a press release on Thursday two hours earlier than the scheduled begin that the England and Wales Cricket Board “has informed the PCB that they are in a position to field an XI, and, as such, the first test will commence as per schedule today at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium..”
Several England players were affected by a virus ahead of the team’s first test in Pakistan in 17 years, leading to discussions about postponing the start of the match by one day. Officials from both teams had agreed to delay a final decision on whether to postpone the game until 7:30 a.m. local time Thursday — just two hours before the scheduled toss.
Only five England players — Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope and Joe Root — turned up for the training at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The rest of the squad members, including captain Ben Stokes, stayed in the hotel as team officials said six or seven players had been affected by the virus.
Brook, Crawley, Pope and Root all were named in England’s playing XI for the first test.
“There’s obviously a few guys not feeling 100%,” Root instructed media, including that he didn’t really feel good yesterday however awoke lot higher on Wednesday earlier than coming for the coaching on the stadium. “It’s nothing like food poisoning or COVID … I think it’s just one of those things that we’ve unfortunately picked up as a group. We try to do absolutely everything right to make sure we’re prepared really well for this game.
“Sometimes you just pick up a virus and when you’re all tied together in one, I tell you, you can spread it out. We did everything we can to try and mitigate that, but you have to see how things go tonight and tomorrow.”
England staff spokesman Danny Rueben stated a number of employees members of the England contingent have additionally been affected by the virus.
England has already named its enjoying XI for the primary of the three-test collection with Liam Livingstone set to make his take a look at debut and Ben Duckett is penciled as opener with Crawley. Veteran quick bowler James Anderson and Ollie Robinson are the 2 specialist quick bowler with Stokes as the opposite seaming possibility.
