England vs Pakistan Live: Babar Azam on Covid stuck England team, ‘don’t know most of newly named cricketers’
England vs Pakistan Live: Babar Azam on Covid stuck England team, ‘don’t know most of newly named cricketers’ – Pakistan skipper Babar…
England vs Pakistan Live: Babar Azam on Covid stuck England team, ‘don’t know most of newly named cricketers’ – Pakistan skipper Babar Azam on Wednesday expressed that his team never had a thought of calling off their tour of England even though three English players and four support staff were tested Covid-19 positive. England a brand new 18 member squad for the ODI series and named Ben Stokes the captain of the side.
Meanwhile, the rest of the England party involved in the 2-0 ODI series win over Sri Lanka, completed with a washed-out third match in Bristol on Sunday, were forced to self-isolate.
England vs Pakistan Live: That meant they were ruled out of the three ODIs against Pakistan as well.
Azam, asked ahead of the first ODI in Cardiff on Thursday if Pakistan had thought of abandoning a tour that also includes three Twenty20 internationals, told a video conference: “No, we didn’t think about it, it didn’t come into our minds at any time.
England vs Pakistan Live: “The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) have assured us that they will take care of the safety and health of all the squad members.
Also Read: ENG vs PAK: Pakistan cricket team leave for Cardiff ahead of 1st ODI against Ben Stokes’ England
“We must understand that these are the unprecedented times of Covid-19. Then again I want to acknowledge my players that are spending time in bio-secure bubbles and we have prepared in that. We are focusing on cricket and tomorrow’s game.
England vs Pakistan Live: Azam added: “Of course it was disappointing news and we must understand that we would not get the ideal situation because of the Covid situation.”
England may be the 50-over world champions, but Pakistan will be up against an unfamiliar side in the series opener at Sophia Gardens.
“We know most of them but there were a couple of new faces in the squad,” Azam said.
England vs Pakistan Live: “We sat together with the analyst, we worked on them, we have seen footage of their county matches and we can’t take any player playing for England lightly.
“I know a few of them having played in the (English county) T20 Blast and those we don’t know we have researched their performances. We are expecting good cricket tomorrow.”
England vs Pakistan Live: Azam goes into the series as the world’s top-ranked batsman in ODIs. “I have been in good touch and I know my responsibilities,” he said.
