The Pakistan team will start to assemble in a bio-secure environment in June as they ramp up their preparations for their tour to England in August.
Starting from June, the 25-man squad will begin training in small pairs at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy before finally meeting up as one big group at the Gaddafi Stadium, according to ESNPcricinfo.
CSA, BCCI considering T20 series in August
They will then conduct their travel to England in July, while remaining under a strict bio-secure environment throughout before returning to Pakistan at the end of August.
“It seems the Pakistan cricket team will have to remain under a strict bio-secure environment for up to three months,’ said Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan.
‘Players will be given an option to withdraw if they are still not satisfied with the provisions that will be put in place. Full details will be provided in the coming weeks.’
The PCB and English Cricket Board (ECB) met last week Friday to discuss the logistics behind the bio-secure environment with both parties satisfied with the methods in place to make the tour happen.
Pakistan’s tour of England to go ahead
Although nothing has yet been completely finalised, Khan said last week that the PCB is optimistic about conducting the tour and ensuring everyone’s safety in the process.
‘We were presented with a lot of the planning and detail that the ECB are putting into place for this summer, especially on the operational side, right from the plane for travel to the bio-secure venues we will play in.’
Former Pakistan captain and now head coach of the team, Misbah-ul-Haq, will work out the details of the secure bubble with Head of the PCB’s medical and sports science department, Dr. Sohail Saleem, and bowling coach Waqar Younis.
The bubble or environment will feature a venue, in this case the Lahore NCA, where players and staff members will have accommodation, training and catering facilities in close proximity, while they will also be tested regularly.
On Thursday Cricket South Africa hinted at creating something similar in South Africa should international teams travel to the country, while the risk of Covid-19 remains high.
CSA ready to create bio-secure environment
Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
