ECB, PCB in discussion to postpone Rawalpindi Test after England players fall ill

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and England-Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may decide to postpone the Rawalpindi Test after a virus swept through the England camp and left several English cricketers unwell.

"The PCB and ECB are in discussions regarding the commencement of the 1st #PAKvENG Test as some England players are down with a viral infection. The PCB continues to monitor the situation, is in contact with the ECB and will provide further updates in due course," PCB tweeted.

Only five England players -- Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope and Joe Root -- turned up for training at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The rest of the squad members, including captain Ben Stokes, stayed back in the team hotel.

"As far as I'm aware, a few guys are not feeling 100%," Root said.

"I didn't feel great yesterday and I woke up a lot better today. So hopefully it's a 24-hour virus. Don't think it's like food poisoning or COVID or anything like that.

"We are trying to do absolutely everything right to make sure we are prepared for this game."

England have



already named their starting 11, giving a test debut to Liam Livingstone and recalling Ben Duckett to open with Zak Crawley.

Root effectively ruled out leading England again should Stokes miss the match with illness.

"I don't think so... Hopefully, that's not even a conversation that we need to entertain," added the 31-year-old.

They are scheduled to play in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005.

They have hired a chef for the tour after receiving feedback from players who visited Pakistan in September-October for a seven-match T20 series.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam wished the English players a speedy recovery.

"I hope they get better soon. We'd like to face a full-strength England tomorrow."

England had already named its playing XI for the opening game of the three-match series with all-rounder Liam Livingstone set to make his Test debut while Ben Duckett was named as opener with Zak Crawley. England last toured Pakistan in 2005 and is scheduled to play three Test matches at Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi.