The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday said around 100 people, including players, associated with the now-suspended Pakistan Super League have undergone COVID-19 tests.
PSL was postponed on Tuesday after the country’s CricketBoard revealed that a foreign player showed symptoms with formercaptain-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja revealing that it was England’s AlexHales. Hales later said he has gone into self-isolation due to fever andpersistent dry cough after returning home.
“We are expecting the first results later tonight ortomorrow,” a PCB official said.
“Until now no test result has come but we have takenall precautionary steps to ensure the health and safety of players andofficials belonging to the semi-finalist teams, umpires, commentators and evenPCB officials and production staff members,” he added.
The coronavirus outbreak has so far claimed more than 8000lives and infected close to 2,00,000 globally.
Given the health crisis, the PCB has announced closure ofits offices in Lahore and Karachi until Monday when they would review thesituation and take further decisions.
For the time being, the employees have been told to workfrom home and practice social distancing.
Asked if the foreigners, who were a part of the productionstaff, had been allowed to return home, the official didn’t give a clearanswer, saying it was an ongoing process and the test results were awaited.
The PCB has come under criticism for not postponing thePakistan Super League earlier but the official said they took all decisions inconsultation with the government and health agencies.”The moment wesaw the message from Hales who had returned home last week we acted promptlyand followed all protocol to ensure everyone’s safety and well being,” hesaid.