Pak players test negative, to begin practice today

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricketers will begin training for their T20I series against Zimbabwe on Monday (today) afternoon, a team official said.

The team members that were in South Africa reached Harare from Johannessburg through a chartered flight.

All squad members of the Pakistan team tested negative at their arrival in Harare (Zimbabwe). The Covid-19 tests were conducted on cricketers at their arrival in South Africa where the team continuously stayed in the ‘Bubble’.

“All tests results that were conducted on the visiting team on arrival on Saturday in Harare have returned negative. The test results were released on Sunday,” an official accompanying the team when approached said.

Sunday has been observed as a complete rest day with the team members gearing up for the first day of training on Monday at Harare Sports Club which is just 15 minutes’ drive from the hotel where the team members are staying.

“The hotel is the same where the team stayed last time Pakistan toured Zimbabwe. The surroundings are almost the same which were there in South Africa,” the official said.

The tour to Zimbabwe starts with the opening T20 International at Harare Sports Club on April 21. The second game will be played on 23rd and the third on 25th. The first of the two Tests will be played from April 29. Pakistan won the ODI series against South Africa 2-1 and T20I series 3-1.