This Pakistan spinner has tested Covid-19 positive ahead of NZ series

Mohammad Nawaz has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been quarantined as per the PCB’s pandemic protocols. The 27-year-old had tested positive during the second round of testing, which were taken upon arrival in Islamabad on Wednesday. He faces a ten-day quarantine period.

The Pakistan team will take on New Zealand in a series of three ODIs and five T20Is, with the first match scheduled on September 17, and the final one on October 3.

All other Pakistan squad members have tested negative and, as such, the national side will hold a training session as usual on Friday at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

New Zealand will arrive in Islamabad on Saturday, having completed a tour of Bangladesh, where they’ve already lost the five-match T20I series with one game to go. Sadly,the Kiwis are not at full strength and they have travelled for both tours without Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson, who will all be taking part in the second half of IPL 2021 in the UAE. Tom Latham is leading New Zealand with Williamson absent.Latham had been part of New Zealand’s Under-19 World Cup squad in 2010 and later that year he played first-class cricket for Canterbury. In 2012, he made his debut in ODIs and Twenty20 internationals and was shuffled up and down the order for a while but was never a permanent part of the team.

Pakistan had earlier announced that stadiums could be filled upto 25% capacity for the matches against New Zealand.”Spectators are the essence of any sport event as they create an ambience and atmosphere for the players to excel, perform and enjoy. In this background, we are grateful to the NCOC for allowing the PCB to invite 25 per cent crowds for the eight matches,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan had said in a statement before.”This will be an opportunity for the spectators to not only enjoy some quality cricket in the season-opening series but also support and back players from either side as the ODIs count towards the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 qualification, while the T20Is will lead into the ICC T20 World Cup.”

Spectators must be fully vaccinated to be able to attend games. The three ODIs, all taking place in Rawalpindi, will be open to 4500 spectators each. The five T20Is, all at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, will accommodate 5500 spectators each.