Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja feels that the “west” needs to acknowledge the “spirit” and “commitment” shown by sub-continental teams towards the game as they choose to stay on despite the rising Covid-19 threat in the UK.
On July 6, England Cricket Board (ECB) announced that three of its players and four staff members tested positive for the virus resulting in the isolation of the rest of the squad.
Thereafter, the ECB put together a second-string squad overnight led by fit-again Ben Stokes to play in the limited-overs series against Pakistan.
In his tweet, Raja pointed out how the England team had opted out of the South African series citing “mental challenges” when one member of the rainbow nation had Covid-19 symptoms.
England team suffer at the hands of COVID yet Pakistan team stays. South Africa had one player with symptoms of covid in Dec and England chose to leave quoting mental challenges. West needs to acknowledge the spirit of sub continent and commitment to the game… nahin??
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) July 7, 2021
On the other hand, former England cricketer Michael Vaughan feels that players who have tested negative for the virus but still are in isolation should be playing against Pakistan. According to Vaughan, putting all the squad in isolation is a “complete over reaction” from ECB. The England cricket board is yet to announce the names of players who have contracted the virus.
Putting all the cricket squad in isolation is a complete over reaction … Just PCR test all the squad and keep those not positive … or even better treat sports people who are in semi bubbles like we used too … Are you Fit to play ? Yes .. you can then .. #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 7, 2021
Earlier Vaughan also questioned ECB’s selection policy as veteran Alex Hales was not even considered for a second-string England squad for three ODIs and three T20Is that has nine debutants.
The three-match ODI series begins on July 8 at Sofia Gardens, Cardiff as Stokes makes his captaincy debut, against Babar Azam-led Pakistan.
England squad:
Ben Stokes (captain), Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Phil Salt, John Simpson, James Vince
