Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah has been ruled out of the ongoing 7-match T20I series against England, the Pakistan Cricket B🅠oard ๊(PCB) confirmed on Thursday.
Notably, Naseem tested positive for COVID-19 one day after it was revealed he had co🌊ntracted pneumonia. Though the speedster has been released from the hospital, and the PCB said he was feel♋ing better, but will not be available for the remaining two T20Is.
“Shah is back in the team hotel where he will follow all COVID-19 protocols,” the PCB said in a statement.
This also makes Naseem doubtful for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand, which is ꦕscheduled to get underway in Christchurch on October 7 as preparation f𓄧or the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The Pakistan squad is set to leave for New Zealand on October 3 to participate in the T20I tri-series also featuring Bangladesh, with the final to take place on October 14. The Men in Green will then depart for Australia for the multi-team event, where they will play a couple of warm-ups before meeting arch-rivals India in their first 𒁏group game on October 23 in Melbourne.
Notably, Naseem is the second person in the Pakistan camp to have contra𝐆cted COVID-19 during the current series against England, a week ༺after a member of the Pakistan support staff tested positive.
