According to an official statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday, a player from one of the teams in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 has tested positive for COVID-19, whereas an official and another player have been placed in a three-day quarantine after violating biosecurity protocols.
The infected player had shown symptoms and had been placed under isolation beforehand. After 10 days of quarantine, two further negative COVID-19 tests would be required to allow the player to “integrate again with the side in accordance with the applicable re-entry protocols”.
Similarly, the two individuals who violated biosecurity protocols would be required to show two negative tests for Covid-19 during the three-day quarantine period before they could be allowed entry back into the “bio-secure bubble in accordance with the re-entry protocols”.
“The PCB is disappointed that two members of one of the sides showed carelessness and violated the bio-secure bubble protocols by coming into contact with a person who was not part of the bubble,” noted the statement.
It said the health and safety of individuals associated with the PSL were of “paramount importance” for the PCB and the event.
“All players […] are once again reminded to diligently follow the PCB Covid-19 protocols as the PCB will not allow anyone to affect the integrity and credibility of the tournament.”
The PCB is also aiming to get players vaccinated. PCB chairman Ehsan Mani told on Friday that the cricketing board was coordinating with the National Command Operation Centre, which is coordinating Pakistan’s coronavirus response. He expressed hope that all of its cricketers would get vaccinated by March.
