Prior to the first Test match in Rawalpindi, former England Test captain Joe Root on Wednesday ruled out the prospect that any of his teammates may become ill from food poisoning. But he claimed that it is just one of those things that we, regrettably, caught together. In response to a question at a press conference in Rawalpindi today, Root remarked, “I don’t think it’s food poisoning, Covid, or anything like that.”
The England team fell ill
Despite the traveling party carrying their own chef, England’s players, including captain Ben Stokes, have fallen ill on the eve of the first Test. But to the best of my knowledge, a couple of guys aren’t feeling 100%, Root said at the press conference. Root underlined that there was no link between eating and sickness.
The problem is that we have been transporting a chef for a few years. The foreign teams, especially England, all have their own chefs, as you can see. He replied to a question by saying, We optimize ourselves and we also see it from a nutritional standpoint.
It’s difficult to say because I haven’t seen anyone this morning. Root responded when questioned about the current health of the other players. The men are exerting every effort. They put a lot of effort into the games, so I suppose only time will tell.
Unveiling the series Trophy
To give Stokes more time to heal. The event on Wednesday where the two captains would have unveiled the series trophy was postponed. The England and Wales Cricket Board released a statement. Saying that many players and staff personnel, including England captain Ben Stokes, are feeling under the weather and have been told to stay at the hotel to relax.
In the meantime, the Pakistan Cricket Board tweeted today that it was in talks with the ECB about starting the first Test match since certain England players were sick with a viral infection. The PCB is still keeping an eye on the issue and is in touch with the ECB. And will offer more updates as needed, it was stated.
Half of the England team got the infection
According to the BBC, about half of the 16-member playing squad has been affected. Only five of the players participated in an optional training session. It was advised that the remaining 14 members of the traveling party, including coaches and backup staff, stay at the team hotel. Along with the head coach Brendon McCullum, players Joe Root, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, and Keaton Jennings were present at practice on Wednesday. The entire team had practiced on Tuesday.
England may need to alter the lineup for the Test that was initially announced on Tuesday due to the illness. Liam Livingstone, an all-arounder for Lancashire, is scheduled to make his Test debut on Thursday. Ben Duckett, an opener, has been called up for his first Test in six years.
After their T20 side played seven matches there two months ago and won the series 4-3. England is on their first Test tour of Pakistan in 17 years. The decision to hire a chef, Omar Meziane, who also worked with the England men’s football team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and at Euro 2020. It was made in response to issues with food and players feeling ill during the T20 series.
A three-match Test series between England and Pakistan will begin tomorrow (Dec. 1–5), with the second game taking place in Multan from Dec. 9–13 and the third game taking place in Karachi from Dec. 17–21.
The teams for the Test series are listed below:
England Squad
Ben Stokes (batting), Ben Foakes (keeping wicket), Joe Root, James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, and Rehan Ahmed.
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mehmood.
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