Seven members of the England cricket team including three players and four staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. All-rounder Ben Stokes will lead the England ODI side for the first time in the Royal London Series against Pakistan at home. Stokes will make his return to international cricket after he injured his left index finger during the IPL.
The seven members of the original squad, including three players and four staff members, were tested positive for COVID-19, as said by England and Wales Cricket Board on Tuesday.
England has named nine uncapped players in the squad. Chris Silverwood, who had taken some time off during the white-ball series, will be back again as the head coach.
England Cricket CEO Tom Harrison in a press release stated:
“We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of biosecure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak. We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.”
“Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad. We are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to Captain. (Ambien) Ben hasn’t captained our ODI side before so it’s a huge honor for him. We all wish him well and it’s a role I’m sure he’ll thrive in.” Tom Harrison added.