Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Amir and Haris Sohail have withdrawn their names from the England tour where their team will play three-match Test and T20I series in August. Amir is expecting the birth of his second child at the same time while Haris has given some personal reasons to back off from the tour.
Additionally, Mohammad Amir, who was left out from PCB’s central contract this year, had retired from the Test cricket last year. So, if he tours England, he will be only available to play the T20I series, which will start from last week of August. And also, touring England means, the players will have to be away with there families for around two months. Thus, Amir chooses to be with his wife and child.
It is understood that Haris Sohail has also withdrawn his name because he doesn’t want to be away with his family as the players are not allowed to accompany them.
28 Pakistani players to tour England:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that they would announce a 42-person touring team, with 28 players and 14 support staff to accompany them. Babar Azam, the newly appointed ODI captain, will travel to play both the Test and T20I series.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will land the UK several weeks before the tour to follow the safety guidelines. They will be quarantined for two to three weeks during which they won’t be allowed to meet any outsider. The touring nation will be kept under a bio-secure environment and regular COVID-19 tests will be done during the tour.
Well, before Pakistan, West Indies will play the series against England. They have arrived there and are currently, quarantined at Old Trafford. The three-match Test series between West Indies and England will start from 8th July in Southhampton.