Seven positive Covid tests in England force new ODI squad for Pakistan

bbc.com

London: England have named an inexperienced 18-man replacement squad for their ODI series with Pakistan after three players and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

The team were due to begin the series with an ODI in Cardiff on Thursday.

But tests administered on Monday returned seven positive results and the rest of England's party will be required to self isolate as a result.

The new squad features nine uncapped players.

Ben Stokes returns to captain the squad having been absent after sustaining a broken finger when playing in the IPL earlier this year.

The uncapped contingent comprises
Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Lewis Gregory, Will Jacks, Tom Helm, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Phil Salt and John Simpson, although Crawley, Gregory and Lawrence have represented England in other formats.

There is no recall for Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales, who has not played for England since being removed from the World Cup squad for an "off-field incident" in May 2019.

England new ODI squad:
Ben Stokes (Capt.), Jake Ball, Danny Briggs, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Lewis Gregory, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Daniel Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, David Payne, Phil Salt, John Simpson (wk), James Vince