Imran Khan, Haider Ali and Kashif Bhatti to leave for England: Three more Pakistani cricketers have been cleared to leave for England.
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Fast bowler Imran Khan, spinner Kashif Bhatti and batsman Haider Ali have all tested negative for COVID-19 twice and will be allowed to travel to England on July 8 for the upcoming tour.
Talking about the original 29-member squad announced by the selection committee, only pacer Haris Rauf remains to be tested negative for COVID-19. Having said that, the right-arm bowler continues to remain asymptomatic.
Having made his T20I debut against Bangladesh at home earlier this year, Rauf was highly likely to play a vital role in the three-match T20I series in England especially after picking 20 wickets at an average of 13.35, an economy rate of 7.05 and a strike rate of 11.3 for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.
Imran Khan, Haider Ali and Kashif Bhatti to leave for England
The prospect of the tour going ahead as planned had hit a minor jolt after as many as 10 Pakistani cricketers had tested positive for coronavirus.
While six of them including veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez and spinner Shadab Khan had tested negative twice and subsequently flew to England on July 3, it is now turn for the aforementioned trio to join the rest of the squad in Worcester.
Out of Imran Khan, Haider Ali and Kashif Bhatti, only Imran Khan has represented Pakistan at the highest level – the last of his 10 Tests being the first Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Brisbane last year.
Haider Ali, 19, found a spot in the squad on the back of impressive performances in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup and the Pakistan Super League this year.
