Half of the England squad have been taken ill with a virus the day before the Test series against Pakistan

30 November 2022, 10:42

The England team training in Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket stadium
The England team training in Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket stadium. Picture: Getty
Fran Way

By Fran Way

Half of the England squad have been taken ill with a virus the day before the Test series against Pakistan.

About eight of the 16 players, including captain Ben Stokes, and six support staff have stayed at the hotel in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to rest.

England’s first Test in Pakistan, the first in 17 years, was due to start tomorrow but talks are now taking place about the possibility of postponing the first game by one day.

England had tried to mitigate the risk of issues in Pakistan and made additional preparations including hiring their own chef for the tour for the first time but a number of the squad were still struck down and remained at the hotel instead of taking part in an optional training session this morning.

READ MORE:Woman, 39, arrested after two boys, aged 10, found stabbed in home following nine hour stand-off

READ MORE: Dad-of-two jailed for running burglars off the road 'blown away' after strangers raise £77,000 for legal fees

Discussions have taken place between the relevant governing bodies over the issue, with the match starting a day late being considered as a worse-case scenario contingency plan. If the game had been due to take place today it would need to be pushed back by 24-hours given the limited number of players fit enough to take part.

Batsman Joe Root says the illness doesn’t seem to be too serious.

In a media conference he replaced Ben Stokes and remained confident that the game will still go ahead.

He said: “As far as I’m aware, there are a few guys not feeling 100 per cent. I didn’t feel great yesterday but I woke up better today so hopefully it’s just a 24-hour virus and I don’t think it’s food poisoning or Covid or anything like that,

“I think it’s just one of those things that we’ve unfortunately picked up as a group – we’ve tried to do absolutely everything. We’ve prepared really well for this game and sometimes life throws things at you but we’ll do everything we can do be right tomorrow and be right and ready to go.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

Driver left 'seriously injured' after car plunges into Dartmouth Harbour

Duchess Sophie made a sweet gesture to Princess Kate at the end of the Remembrance Day service

Duchess Sophie's tender gesture to Kate as pair appear on Cenotaph balcony in royal return to duties

King Charles leads two-minute silence as he joins 10,000 veterans for Remembrance Day services

King Charles leads nation in two-minute silence as he joins 10,000 veterans at Cenotaph for Remembrance Day service

Suella Braverman claims Nigel Farage would make a 'good ambassador' to the UK under Trump administration

Suella Braverman claims Nigel Farage would make a 'good ambassador' to the UK under Trump administration

Labour minister refuses to confirm US trade deal amid claims UK could be exempt from Trump's tariffs

Labour minister refuses to confirm US trade deal amid claims UK could be exempt from Trump tariffs

Prince Andrew under mounting pressure to reveal mystery financier who helped avoid Royal Lodge eviction

Prince Andrew under mounting pressure to reveal mystery financier who helped him dodge Royal Lodge eviction

James McClean of Wrexham stood away from his team-mates during the minute’s silence before the Sky Bet League One match at SToK Cae Ras, Wrexham. Picture date: Saturday November 9, 2024.

Wrexham player James McClean refuses to stand beside teammates during Remembrance silence

Callum Tindal-Draper, 22, was serving as part the International Legion when he was killed defending the country.

Tributes paid to 'brave as they come' British volunteer, 22, killed in Ukraine

Donald Trump 'could exempt Britain from his tariffs', sources close to the President-Elect have said.

Trump 'could give UK special exemption from tariffs' when he becomes President

Qatar has suspended mediation between Hamas and Israel, officials say.

Qatar quits mediation role in Hamas-Israel talks as terrorist group rumoured to be leaving Gulf state

Rebellious farmers are threatening to blockade ports and leave supermarket shelves bare in an escalation in their row with Rachel Reeves over her plan to up inheritance tax.

Farmers threaten to blockade ports and supermarkets in escalating row over Rachel Reeves's Budget

Emergency services were called to Grove Place near the junction with Carshalton Road, Banstead, shortly after 4pm on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Child dies after being hit by tree branch in Surrey, police say

The Princess of Wales has continued her comeback to royal duties after cancer treatment as she appeared at the Festival of Remembrance.

Princess Kate continues return to duty as she appears at Festival of Remembrance

Golden Organic Honey against a back ground

Nine-in-ten pots of British honey 'fail authenticity tests' as sugar syrup dilutes spread down

President Joe Biden is set to meet Donald Trump next week - after the latter's landslide election win on Tuesday.

Biden to meet Trump next week after Republicans landslide victory and presidential comeback

Women are making blue bracelets to show each other that they didn't vote for Trump

Viral trend sees women make blue 'Taylor Swift' style bracelets to show to each other that they didn't vote for Trump