Pak Vs Eng: 1^st Test started in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

England Started 1^st Test Despite Sick Players

Pakistan Cricket Board’s announced to play of the match according to the original schedule. In the morning, England won the toss and chose to bat first in the 1^st Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

After a number of England players fell ill a day before the match, the start of the match today was in doubt. Later on, the ECB informed the PCB that they are in a situation to make a team. So the 1^st PAK v ENG Test started according to plan today i.e. 1^st December at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Will Jacks and all-rounder Liam Livingstone are added to the touring team. They will be making their test debut in today’s match. Ben Foakes has been replaced by Will Jacks.

1^st Test Started Per Schedule

After winning the toss, England skipper Stokes said that it is not been ideal to begin their visit like this but it will eventually get fine. They have had some illnesses going around but they are really excited to get started.

Saud Shakeel, Haris, Mohammad Ali, and Zahid Mehmood will be debuting from Pakistan’s side.

The 1^st of the three Tests between England and Pakistan will be played from 1- 5 December. The 2^nd match will be taking place in Multan from December 9-13 and the 3^rd in Karachi from December 17-21.

England Team Got Viral Infection

The decision to bring in a chef, Omar Meziane, was made in response to issues with the food and players getting sick during the T20 series. The cook has also worked with the England men’s football team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and at Euro 2020. Talking about food poisoning which his team is suffering, Joe Root said that it is not food poisoning but infection and it is just I think one of those things that we have picked up as a group. He added that he does not think it is even Covid or anything like that.

About 8 players of the English playing team were hit by a disease. Only five players participated in the training session. Many of them were advised to stay in the rooms including their coaches and other helping staff.

Among the attendees were Joe Root, Zak Crawley, Brook, Pope, and Keaton Jennings. Head coach Brendon McCullum was also present. On the previous day, the entire squad had practiced.

Keeping in view the situation of sick players, PCB and England Cricket Board had announced that a final decision on whether to proceed with the first Test as scheduled would be made on Thursday considering fresh health conditions and reports of ill England players.

PCB and ECB in a joint statement said that they had discussed the England team’s outbreak of viral infection and unanimously agreed to delay the decision on the commencement of the first Test until 07:30 Pakistan time tomorrow. It will be based on medical advice from the England doctors.

England has played seven T20 matches in Pakistan two months ago. They won the series by 4-3. The team is now on its first Test tour of Pakistan after 17 years.

Pakistani Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (Wk), Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Salman Ali, Mohammad Ali, Haris Rauf, Saud Shakeel, Zahid Mahmood, and Naseem Shah

England Squad: James Anderson, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Leach, Liam Livingstone, Pope, and Ollie