England name whole new squad for Pakistan ODIs after virus outbreak

Wednesday, 7 July 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ben Stokes will captain England against Pakistan - AFP

LONDON, AFP: Ben Stokes will captain an entirely new England squad featuring nine uncapped players for a one-day international series at home to Pakistan, after the existing group was forced to self-isolate because of a coronavirus

outbreak within the hosts’ camp.

England, the 50-over world champions, were all set to field an unchanged squad after beating Sri Lanka.

But those plans were ripped up after three of their players and four support staff, all as yet unnamed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, tested positive for COVID-19 in Bristol on Monday following the washed-out third ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The rest of the group involved in a 2-0 series win – Sunday’s match in Bristol was a no-result – were forced to self-isolate.

Nevertheless, the three-match series against Pakistan, starting in Cardiff tomorrow, will go ahead, with the fit-again Stokes taking over the England captaincy from Eoin Morgan.

Ashley Giles, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, insisted Tuesday he was “very confident” there had been no breach of team protocols and put the outbreak down to a slight relaxation around travel and accommodation plans and the Delta variant.