PCB withdraws COVID-19 curbs for upcoming West Indies series

• PCB decides not to take COVID-19 measures, including having a bio-secure bubble.
• Players and coaching staff will be free to interact with each other.
• COVID-19 tests will only be conducted in case a player or staff member has symptoms.

LAHORE: After a successful experiment at a domestic tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to not take COVID-19 curbs for future matches that include having a bio-secure bubble.

The PCB official said that the board will adopt this policy during the series against West Indies. According to the PCB, a proposal will be sent to the Cricket West Indies (CWI) to play the series without taking COVID-19 measures. 

Players and coaching staff will be free to interact with each other, and cricket will be played in a normal environment as before. However, COVID-19 tests will only be conducted in case a player or staff member has symptoms. 

In the case of a positive COVID result, the individual will be isolated for five days. The same policy will be adopted in all of Pakistan’s international series and domestic tournaments.

The PCB did not create a bio-secure bubble in the recently concluded Pakistan one-day cup. The players were personally advised to take precautionary measures. Not a single COVID case was reported during the 33 matches played in the tournament.

Meanwhile, PCB Chairperson Ramiz Raja congratulated Australia and Pakistan teams for producing enthralling cricket throughout the 38-day historic tour.

“The three-Test series was combative and engrossing going into the last hour of the 15th day to find a winner, while white-ball cricket confirmed the high billing and calibre of both the sides. The camaraderie and respect demonstrated by the two sides during high-pressure cricket was exemplary and a massive advertisement for our sport,” Raja said in a statement.