Basit confident of Pakistan team departing for England as planned.

ISLAMABAD -- Former middle-order batsman Basit Ali is confident that despite Pakistan's ten players testing positive for COVID-19, the national team will depart for England as planned.

Players who have tested negative will depart for the tour of England on June 28. Pakistan are due to play three Tests and three Twenty20s against England in August-September.

Speaking in a YouTube video Basit said among the players, who tested positive only Mohammad Rizwan was a Test player, while others were part of the T20 outfit, hence Pakistan's Test team would not be affected much.

He said there was no need to worry as the players who contracted virus were young and would not take much time to recover.

'They are young and brave. Their immune system is also very strong. I hope they'll defeat the virus and recover very soon.

'They may fly to England later on as there is enough time for the T20 series to take place.

'But the thing is that these players will have to spend 28 days in quarantine now - 14 days in Pakistan and as many in England.'

He said England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) would have to review policy and issue visas to players on arrival. 'Usually, visas are not issued on arrival but I feel both the boards will have to sign some MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) for that.

He said previously some people were critical of the 29-member extended Pakistan squad, but now they would also have to change their opinion.

He said...