Lahore
The Covid-19 testing process of the players and player support personnel for the 2020-21 domestic season began here, Monday.
“The health and safety of our players is of utmost importance for the Pakistan Cricket Board“, said PCB Director – High Performance, Nadeem Khan. “Since squad members of the First XI, Second XI and U19 teams are spread all over the country, it was logistically unfeasible to conduct their Covid-19 tests under the supervision of the PCB’s medical team.
Hence, they will get their first tests done themselves and the board will reimburse the cost,” he asserted. “All of the squad members will undergo the second Covid-19 tests at the PCB-designated central stations, which will be conducted by the PCB’s medical team,” said the PCB official.
“The players who toured England for three Tests and as many T20Is will join their respective domestic teams on 25 September as they have been granted permission to spend time with their families after a long tour,” he added.
He said, “It is a matter of pride that the PCB is about to start its domestic season from 30 September despite the current Covid-19 situation. This is the board’s biggest cricketing operation in the current pandemic”.
The Pakistan Cricket Board will spend around PKR15million on players, player support personnel and match officials’ testing during the 2020-21 domestic season, which kicks off with the National T20 Cup on 30 September with the first round matches in Multan and second round games in Rawalpindi from 9-18 October. Director – High Performance Nadeem Khan said that tomorrow on Tuesday each player in the National T20 Cup, National U19 Three-Day and One-Day competitions, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament will undergo tests, at least, twice in the lead up to the tournaments.
The players are also expected to undergo random tests during the tournaments. The PCB has already announced 192 players for the 1st and 2nd XI events, while each of the six U19 Cricket Association sides are likely to comprise 20 players apiece (120 players in total). In addition to this, player support personnel and match officials will also undergo Covid-19 tests as per the protocols, which are being fine-tuned and likely to be confirmed later this week.
“Due to the pandemic, this is an additional cost but the PCB is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the players, player support personnel and match officials. Therefore, the PCB is happy to make this investment”.
“There is nothing more important than the health and safety of all involved in the competition and the PCB will fulfill all its obligations and responsibilities towards all the competitors as part of its duty of care,” Nadeem Khan, a former international spinner, said. —APP
