Fakhar, Imran Khan, Kashif, Hafeez, Hasnain, Rizwan, Wahab test positive for Covid-19

[shah_1]

SECOND update on Covid-19 tests

Lahore, 23 June 2020:

Following the announcement yesterday that three players had tested positive for Covid-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday confirmed that a further seven players and a player support personnel from a total of 35 have tested positive for Covid-19. The PCB had organised these 35 tests in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar on Monday.

Players who have tested positive are: Fakhar Zaman, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan and Wahab Riaz

Player who have tested negative are: Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmad, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Sohail Khan, and Yasir Shah

Player Support Personnel, who has tested positive, is: Malang Ali (masseur)

Player Support Personnel who have tested negative are: Mansoor Rana (manager), Misbah-ul-Haq (head coach), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Younis Khan (batting coach), Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Talha Butt (team analyst), Yasir Malik (strength and conditioning coach), Dr Sohail Saleem (team doctor), Lt Col (retd) Usman Riffat (security manager) and Raza Kitchlew (media and digital content manager).

Not tested to date: Shoaib Malik, Cliffe Deacon and Waqar Younis

On Monday, Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari had tested negative, while the results of Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan were positive.

Like Haider, Haris and Shadab none of the seven players and masseur had reported any prior symptoms of Covid-19 until they underwent first round of testing on Monday ahead of the side’s departure for Manchester.

The PCB medical panel is already in contact with these players and the masseur, who have been instructed to observe strict quarantine at their homes for their and their families’ wellbeing.

Next steps are:

• The players and player support personnel, who have tested negative, will assemble in a bio-secure environment in Lahore on 24 June and will undergo second round of testing on 25 June

• The players and player support personnel, who will test negative on 25 June, will depart for Manchester on a chartered flight. Within 24 after hours after arriving in the UK, they will be tested by the ECB medical panel

• The players and player support personnel, who will test negative upon arrival in the UK, will observe a quarantine period as per the UK government’s regulations, but will be allowed to train and practice in a bio-secure facility

• The players and player support personnel, who have tested positive in pre-departure testing, will observe self-isolation in their homes and remain under strict monitoring of the PCB medical panel

• As soon as they will complete their minimum quarantine period, they will undergo further testing and after their two tests are negative, they will be flown to England on a commercial airline

• Upon arrival in the UK, they will be tested again by the ECB medical panel and will be allowed to integrate with the Pakistan men’s national squad after they test negative

• According to series SOPs, the Pakistan men’s national cricket team will undergo, at least, five tests in the lead up to the first test

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “The recent positive tests of some of the fittest athletes, who had not shown any symptoms, clearly reflect the danger this virus possesses. As such, and on behalf of the PCB, I once again request the public to strictly adhere to all safety precautions as advised and recommended by the federal and provincial governments to ensure their health and safety as well as of their dear and near ones.

“As regards the players, who have tested positive, we will continue to monitor and support them, including conducting antibody tests, and as soon as they test negative, they will be flown to join the squad in England. At the moment, they have been advised to go into self-isolation so that they not only recover quickly but also prevent their other family members from being infected.

“The tour to England is very much on track and the side will depart as per schedule on 28 June. Fortunately, all the first-choice red-ball squad, barring Mohammad Rizwan, are negative, which means they can start training and practicing immediately after they have been tested and given the all clear when they arrive in England

“In the meantime, Misbah-ul-Haq is reviewing the training schedule in England and is firming up plans for reserve players to be tested as a backup.”

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Seriously? Is situation that bad in Pakistan? Admittedly I haven't been keeping up too much on what's been happening back in Pakistan but I hear people have not been caring about social distancing etc

 

[shah_1]

The cases are in millions


Don't follow this daily postive numbers that officals are reporting

 

[Arsal_AK]

This is not something that was unexpected. Tell them to quarantine, delay the departure for a while, when they test negative in a couple of weeks, they can travel to England. We have our first test at around the 5th of August, plenty of time.

What is said in the article linked is precisely how we should proceed. I'll add that they should do antibody tests for those who tested negative for PCR. It will help in decisions going forward.

 

[Arsal_AK]

The cases are in millions


Don't follow this daily postive numbers that officals are reporting

Which is a good thing. It means that the IFR is much much lower in Pakistan. The CFR is already low at 2 percent, even a 10x undercount pushes it to 0.2, it's probably even more.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan should delay the departure til 3rd of July if they already and test on the 1st of july to see if any of them are are negative now

 

[shamaan]

This is not something that was unexpected. Tell them to quarantine, delay the departure for a while, when they test negative in a couple of weeks, they can travel to England. We have our first test at around the 5th of August, plenty of time.

What is said in the article linked is precisely how we should proceed. I'll add that they should do antibody tests for those who tested negative for PCR. It will help in decisions going forward.

They have to travel by 3rd of july otherwise they wont get any match practise or get england to delay the tour by 2 weeks and do a test on 1st of july

 

[Visaal-E-Yaar]

Looking bad, hope tour will go on. Really missing cricket

 

[shamaan]

Looking bad, hope tour will go on. Really missing cricket

Needs to be delayed by 1 week

 

[Hawkeye]

It's a combination of things.

I assume some of these are false positives too. Our testing isn't the most reliable.

Plus, the good news is those positive will join the squad later.

 

[shamaan]

It's a combination of things.

I assume some of these are false positives too. Our testing isn't the most reliable.

Plus, the good news is those positive will join the squad later.

They will be tested again if they change from positive to negative within 2 times that would question everything

 

[Slog]

Wow. If the cricketers are used as a sample. Our cases are in millions.

This is really concerning for the nation as a whole since clearly these players were more equipped to practise social distancing than the average awaam

 

[sindhiboy]

Oh no, does that mean sarfraz will have to be our keeper for tests?

 

[TeymurBlake]

Not surprising tbh, with the manner Pakistani are going about during this pandemic you would suspect a few more players catching this virus. But on the other hand you would expect some level professionalism and procedures put in place for these players unfortunately PCB doesn't think that far ahead.

 

[Mesozoic]

Wow 10 guys testing positive. Did they all train together at the academy or something ?

Only that will explain this.

 

[Hitman]

Forget cricket, hope they recover from their illness soon. This is heartbreaking, really.

 

[JaDed]

Wow. If the cricketers are used as a sample. Our cases are in millions.

This is really concerning for the nation as a whole since clearly these players were more equipped to practise social distancing than the average awaam

Djokovich and his wife have also ended up testing positive after the Adria tour event and final was canceled following Grigor Dimitrov's positive test as per cnn.. my assumption is they are more prone to it due to exposure to facilities and other untested people.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/23/tennis/novak-djokovic-coronavirus-adria-tour-spt-intl/index.html

 

[Bhaijaan]

Cricket should be the last hing on priority list. Take care of yourselves guys and stay safe. Cricket will happen later. Don't run behind money.

BCCI and other boards should monitor the situation and change their own plans.

 

[Junaids]

It makes it obvious just how uneducated and untrustworthy modern Pakistan cricketers are.

There’s a pandemic going on. They need to be absolutely avoiding unacceptable high-risk behaviours like:

1. Having domestic servants.
2. Seeing family members they don’t live with.
3. Seeing friends.
4. Attending places of worship.
5. Having massages or seeing sex workers.
6. Going to the shops.
7. Playing sport or attending a gym.
8. Having a haircut by someone not living in the household.
9. Going to a restaurant.
10. Allowing a child in the household to attend school.

Any player who has done any of the above high-risk activities since 28 February is a disgrace and should never play for his country again.

 

[DRsohail]

I have told you guys pakistan atleast have 80 lakj cases .

 

[Bewal Express]

It makes it obvious just how uneducated and untrustworthy modern Pakistan cricketers are.

There’s a pandemic going on. They need to be absolutely avoiding unacceptable high-risk behaviours like:

1. Having domestic servants.
2. Seeing family members they don’t live with.
3. Seeing friends.
4. Attending places of worship.
5. Having massages or seeing sex workers.
6. Going to the shops.
7. Playing sport or attending a gym.
8. Having a haircut by someone not living in the household.
9. Going to a restaurant.
10. Allowing a child in the household to attend school.

Any player who has done any of the above high-risk activities since 28 February is a disgrace and should never play for his country again.

What you fail understand that many PKs believe the whole thing is fake. Why would you do any of these when they dont a problem exists?

 

[Green Patriot]

I hope they all recover soon.
This is alarming news. To think that so many people who might be positive are roaming around and potentially infecting others.

 

[Junaids]

It makes it obvious just how uneducated and untrustworthy modern Pakistan cricketers are.

There’s a pandemic going on. They need to be absolutely avoiding unacceptable high-risk behaviours like:

1. Having domestic servants.
2. Seeing family members they don’t live with.
3. Seeing friends.
4. Attending places of worship.
5. Having massages or seeing sex workers.
6. Going to the shops.
7. Playing sport or attending a gym.
8. Having a haircut by someone not living in the household.
9. Going to a restaurant.
10. Allowing a child in the household to attend school.

Any player who has done any of the above high-risk activities since 28 February is a disgrace and should never play for his country again.

Geriatrics like Hafeez, Wahab and Imran are supposed to provide common sense and leadership.

Yet it looks like they have probably indulged in the recklessly irresponsible behaviours listed above.

 

[Bewal Express]

I have told you guys pakistan atleast have 80 lakj cases .

Are we close to heard immunity?

 

[Kroll]

What you fail understand that many PKs believe the whole thing is fake. Why would you do any of these when they dont a problem exists?

True no point getting worked up over it, some people never learn or listen. Let them get on with it.

 

[DRsohail]

Are we close to heard immunity?

let me share my experience here. New cases on down trend now in most of kpk districts. Recovery on the rise, we are having herd immunity in many areas but I am not sure as a whole. Plus the Pakistan type of virus is a weaker one and mortality is down as well. Good things will come IA. Next one month will be tough then will be ok i do believe.

 

[DRsohail]

Like in my village I know more than 50 patients but no e of them tested themselves.

 

[Markhor]

Are we close to heard immunity?

To have herd immunity you need nearly 70% of the population infected from what I read. That's not a strategy to follow.

 

[Junaids]

To have herd immunity you need nearly 70% of the population infected from what I read. That's not a strategy to follow.

Judging by these numbers, infection rates are around 10/35 or just under 30%.

Less than halfway to herd immunity, but herd immunity (apart from by vaccination) for such a serious virus is tantamount to national suicide.

 

[Bewal Express]

To have herd immunity you need nearly 70% of the population infected from what I read. That's not a strategy to follow.

I agree, but looking at how our people(the majority) dont believe its dangerous, and it may end up that way.

 

[Titan24]

Its not just in Pakistan, a lot of people around the world a asymptomatic and thus are not part of the cases which are recorded.

These players only got tested because they were to play for Pakistan, there is a large number of people around the world which are never tested because they dont have symptoms. Random testing is not very common anywhere as you cant force people to get tested.

 

[Bewal Express]

let me share my experience here. New cases on down trend now in most of kpk districts. Recovery on the rise, we are having herd immunity in many areas but I am not sure as a whole. Plus the Pakistan type of virus is a weaker one and mortality is down as well. Good things will come IA. Next one month will be tough then will be ok i do believe.

Assuming that these players didnt pass it onto each other, then these stats show( and your anecdotal evidence points the same way) that the virus has spread far and wide. IA it doesnt do too much damage.
Has there been many fatalities in your area?

 

[pakistani pride]

Seriously? Is situation that bad in Pakistan? Admittedly I haven't been keeping up too much on what's been happening back in Pakistan but I hear people have not been caring about social distancing etc

Well many people who test positive dont even have any impact. They dont even feel sick but test positive.

Testing positive doesnt mean you will fall down next second.

 

[Bewal Express]

Its not just in Pakistan, a lot of people around the world a asymptomatic and thus are not part of the cases which are recorded.

These players only got tested because they were to play for Pakistan, there is a large number of people around the world which are never tested because they dont have symptoms. Random testing is not very common anywhere as you cant force people to get tested.

I got tested as a key worker, and it came out negative but a grandfather of girl i taught at school died from the virus, and i had worked with that class in the 3 weeks upto lockdown. It will be interesting to see if i have had the virus or not

 

[pakistani pride]

It makes it obvious just how uneducated and untrustworthy modern Pakistan cricketers are.

There’s a pandemic going on. They need to be absolutely avoiding unacceptable high-risk behaviours like:

1. Having domestic servants.
2. Seeing family members they don’t live with.
3. Seeing friends.
4. Attending places of worship.
5. Having massages or seeing sex workers.
6. Going to the shops.
7. Playing sport or attending a gym.
8. Having a haircut by someone not living in the household.
9. Going to a restaurant.
10. Allowing a child in the household to attend school.

Any player who has done any of the above high-risk activities since 28 February is a disgrace and should never play for his country again.

Do you know the number of deaths due to covid 19 in Pak?

 

[Bewal Express]

Judging by these numbers, infection rates are around 10/35 or just under 30%.

Less than halfway to herd immunity, but herd immunity (apart from by vaccination) for such a serious virus is tantamount to national suicide.

The death rate in PK is low in comparison to other places at the moment. IA it stays that way.

 

[Bewal Express]

True no point getting worked up over it, some people never learn or listen. Let them get on with it.

My brother is a proper desi, he stopped working as a taxi driver after i gave him an earful, he then heard from others that they were working and good making money, he told me it was all fake, and started to work, even though he is no financial pressure to work.

 

[last_knight]

I have told you guys pakistan atleast have 80 lakj cases .

From my clinical experience from last 2 months I would say its more than that.

 

[Junaids]

Do you know the number of deaths due to covid 19 in Pak?

Nobody does: given the inadequate testing you would need to rely upon the national government comparing death numbers with previous years, and that’s not going to happen.

The team testing is probably the first reliable picture of national community infection rates, and suggests a current infection rate of roughly 30%.

The national population is 221 million, so I’m guessing 60 million people are infected.

And so I suspect the (unreported) number of excess deaths in Pakistan, which are actually due to Coronavirus, is probably so far between 1 and 2 million. But almost certainly attributed to their other pre-existing conditions or age.

 

[CleverSir]

All the best to the positive tested players. I pray for their health and recovery. This can't be an easy situation for them or their families.

 

[Bigboii]

This turned into a s*** show in no time tbh

I mean 10 positive players imagine what's actually happening in the country

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Seriously? Is situation that bad in Pakistan? Admittedly I haven't been keeping up too much on what's been happening back in Pakistan but I hear people have not been caring about social distancing etc

Unfortunately yea it's gonna get worse. Pakistan haven't reached the peak yet. I think the best thing is perhaps to cancel this tour.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

In the plus side i think Pakistan needs to use the opportunity to give domestic stars a chance, so i think this would be ample time to try Tabish Khan perhaps.

However, my brain just says cancel the tour altogether.

 

[Bewal Express]

This turned into a s*** show in no time tbh

I mean 10 positive players imagine what's actually happening in the country

What's happening everywhere, a pandemic. Do you have a magic wand to stop the spread.

 

[Mueez]

Think the tour is going to get canceled...

Wish them all a speedy recovery!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Hope all the players make a full recovery, cricket needs to take a back seat if so many players are missing out, no point sending a weak spot to england just for sake of it.

 

[Saj]

That's 10 so far with more tests to come.

Worrying situation and the PCB should keep an open mind regarding this tour.

 

[princeuk]

That is shocking news, I hope each and every one of them recover. How many others will come out positive in the next coming days, hopefully none more but we cant be certain.

 

[Amjid Javed]

That's 10 so far with more tests to come.

Worrying situation and the PCB should keep an open mind regarding this tour.

At this rate they will be looking for 20 players from obscure villages to fufil the tour.

 

[Saj]

At this rate they will be looking for 20 players from obscure villages to fufil the tour.

Misbah, Mushy and Waqar better take their kit on tour I reckon.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Misbah, Mushy and Waqar better take their kit on tour I reckon.

We might aswell turn up to games in full kit as me could get a game aswell. On serious note PCB need to think of the safety of the players.

 

[Rajdeep]

This is very sad news and hope all players get well soon. It goes to show anyone can have coronavirus without symptoms. All cricket should be banned this year (as much as I hate to say this).

 

[Saj]

I know some people are desperate to see cricket played again, but the health and welfare of players has to come first. There should be no shortcuts just to get cricket back on.

 

[kingusama92]

Whoa!

That's a third of the squad.

You could tell this was going to happen when they were practicing together.

 

[Giannis]

Wow. If the cricketers are used as a sample. Our cases are in millions.

This is really concerning for the nation as a whole since clearly these players were more equipped to practise social distancing than the average awaam

The thing is that most cases are asymptomatic and not more harmful than the common cold or a really bad fever, it's only the small number of cases that need hospitalization and ventilators, if anything this should evoke confidence that it isn't as bad as the media is making it out. Most people will get COVID-19 and then recover at home.

 

[DRsohail]

Assuming that these players didnt pass it onto each other, then these stats show( and your anecdotal evidence points the same way) that the virus has spread far and wide. IA it doesnt do too much damage.
Has there been many fatalities in your area?

fortunately zero. Means no fatalities even diabetics got better.

 

[angrypathan]

Rizwan's the only important member of the test squad to test positive, and even he's got a replacement in Sarfraz ready to go. The rest, unfortunate news, and I hope they recover as soon as possible, but their exclusion from the squad may be a blessing in disguise.

 

[Bewal Express]

fortunately zero. Means no fatalities even diabetics got better.

That's good to hear. It seems the virus has weakened or the immune system is strong.

 

[Arsal_AK]

They have to travel by 3rd of july otherwise they wont get any match practise or get england to delay the tour by 2 weeks and do a test on 1st of july

The test series starts by 5th August. Even if the positive players go by 15th, they have a full two weeks to get used to the conditions.

The test 11 bar Rizwan is negative. So that's good in the context of the tour. Rizwan can join later. Provided people don't catch the virus now, we are good for the tour.

Hopefully the positive cases get well as soon as possible.

 

[Arsal_AK]

It's a combination of things.

I assume some of these are false positives too. Our testing isn't the most reliable.

Plus, the good news is those positive will join the squad later.

It's accurate. We are using the state of the art testing. And the PCB will have gotten the tests done from a competent lab. Incompetence was the biggest reason for why people were getting false positives (mixing up and losing tests etc at quite a few lower level labs especially in Karachi, where this issue is most pronounced)

Could be false positives in the sense that the virus is cleared and the PCR is picking remnant viral fragments, but they neither cause reinfection nor can they be transmitted to others i.e they are non infections (putting this up so that people dont get the wrong idea and this happens with every virus, not just this one).

They should also do the antibody tests on everyone. Will give a clearer picture.

 

[Junaids]

The test series starts by 5th August. Even if the positive players go by 15th, they have a full two weeks to get used to the conditions.

The test 11 bar Rizwan is negative. So that's good in the context of the tour. Rizwan can join later. Provided people don't catch the virus now, we are good for the tour.

Hopefully the positive cases get well as soon as possible.

The whole point was that the 28 June departure date allowed adequate preparation and acclimatization in England. And the key part of that was Pakistan playing multiple trial matches against Pakistan A in match conditions.

Now there are only 19 players left, and several of them are hopeless.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Prayers for quick recovery of Fakhar, Imran Khan, Kashif, Hafeez, Hasnain, Rizwan and Wahab and Malang. Please take good care. Appeal to all Pakistanis, please take the virus seriously!</p>— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1275440631590973441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hawkeye]

The whole point was that the 28 June departure date allowed adequate preparation and acclimatization in England. And the key part of that was Pakistan playing multiple trial matches against Pakistan A in match conditions.

Now there are only 19 players left, and several of them are hopeless.

All the Test players are negative and they'll arrive in time to have practice for Tests plus acclimatization.

Only rizwan is positive.

But, asymptomatic, like millions of other people in the country, and they're all going to develop antibodies too. So that's a kind of a positive.

A small percentage does get symptoms.

 

[Indiafan]

All the Test players are negative and they'll arrive in time to have practice for Tests plus acclimatization.

Only rizwan is positive.

But, asymptomatic, like millions of other people in the country, and they're all going to develop antibodies too. So that's a kind of a positive.

A small percentage does get symptoms.

According to WHO more than 50 to 65% of people develop symptoms. How is that a small %?

 

[JibranAnsari]

So the tour is effectively over.

 

[MenInG]

So the tour is effectively over.

No its not.

Please read Wasim Khan's remarks which are in

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...-seriousness-of-the-situation-quot-Wasim-Khan

The players who have tested positive are predominantly T20I ones and that part of tour starts on 23rd August.

 

[Junaids]

No its not.

Please read Wasim Khan's remarks which are in

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...-seriousness-of-the-situation-quot-Wasim-Khan

The players who have tested positive are predominantly T20I ones and that part of tour starts on 23rd August.

But they were required for two reasons for the Test squad.

Firstly, to provide match-conditions practice for the Test players to acclimatize in the absence of side-matches.

Secondly, because a number of the Test players are not as good as some of the T20 specialists. Mohammad Abbas, for example, succeeded in England on soft May wickets 2 years ago but will be far too slow to succeed in August conditions, and he needed to be replaced by Haris Rauf. Now that won't happen.

 

[Junaids]

I was hoping that Azhar and Fawad would be injured or dropped before the First Test too.

 

[Ab Fan]

Hope they all stay safe.

Safety should be first priority. I don't even expect much from match results atleast for this whole year. The priority is to start cricket first.

 

[shamaan]

So the tour is effectively over.

Nope not yet

 

[MenInG]

From PCB release

The BoG expressed satisfaction on the steps taken and processes followed prior to sending the Pakistan men’s national cricket team to England, but expressed concerns on the number of positive tests. On the basis the Covid-19 and cricket is likely to co-exist in the foreseeable future, the BoG advised the PCB to put in place stricter measures to ensure health and safety of all its elite cricketers.

 

[shamaan]

From PCB release

The BoG expressed satisfaction on the steps taken and processes followed prior to sending the Pakistan men’s national cricket team to England, but expressed concerns on the number of positive tests. On the basis the Covid-19 and cricket is likely to co-exist in the foreseeable future, the BoG advised the PCB to put in place stricter measures to ensure health and safety of all its elite cricketers.

Who's BOG

 

[sweep_shot]

Wow!

Looks like Pakistan team got it more than other teams. Did they practice without maintaining social distancing?

 

[msb314]

Who's BOG

Board of Governors

 

[shamaan]

Board of Governors

Thankyou