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Three cricketers from the West Indies have tested positive for Covid in Pakistan

 

Cottrell, Chase and Mayers have all been added to the roster for a three-game T20I series that begins Monday

Three West Indies cricketers and one member of the team tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Pakistan and will miss the upcoming limited-over series, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Saturday.

Left-armed pacemaker Sheldon Cottrell, all-rounders Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers, and a non-coaching employee "returned positive tests in Karachi and will therefore not be available for participation in the upcoming Pakistan series," CWI said in a statement.

All four were fully vaccinated and with no major symptoms. They remain isolated for 10 days until they return negative PCR test results.

"Our arrival test protocols in Pakistan confirmed four COVID-19 positives," said CWI chief Johnny Grave.

“These were confirmed while the players and staff were still in the room isolation. So despite this significant setback in our prep plans, we are confident that the tour can continue as everyone else has returned negative PCRs before arriving in Pakistan and two negative PCRs since they were in Karachi.

“The risk of COVID-19 infection cannot be completely ruled out from a cricket tour, although many of our players have been living in bio-safe bubbles almost continuously since the CPL.

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"This unusual loss of three players from our squad will seriously affect our team preparation, but the rest of the squad are in a good mood and will start training today before our first game on Monday."

Cottrell, Chase and Mayers have all been added to the roster for a three-game T20I series that begins Monday. Chase has also been selected for the three full-day international matches that will follow in Karachi between December 18 and 22.