Two more overseas players, one official test positive for Covid-19 in PSL.

Byline: Khalid H. Khan

KARACHI -- Just a day after the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 match between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United was postponed on Monday after Fawad Ahmed, the Islamabad overseas player, returned a positive Covid-19 test, two more overseas cricketers and a local backroom staff member tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, making the situation quite grim for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the franchises.

The latest cases surfaced after confirmation of 244 PCR results of five teams - results of around 40-45 people of the remaining franchise were being awaited - with the trio now placed in quarantine on a separate floor at the hotel where teams are staying in Karachi.

While the PCB have not revealed the names of the three new cases - as per policy -, reliable sources identified Islamabad United all-rounder Lewis Gregory, Quetta Gladiators batsman Tom Banton and Kamran Khan, who is the fielding coach of Karachi Kings, as the three people who have tested positive.

Impossible to ascertain causes, 244 tests conducted: PCB media head

The PSL's Event Technical Committee, headed by Nadeem Khan with Dr Sohail Saleem, Sameer Khosa and Marina Iqbal as members, taking lenient view of Islamabad United having just three overseas players available - with one of them, the USA paceman Ali Khan unfit - have allowed them to field two non-Pakistani players for Tuesday's fixture against Quetta Gladiators.

Addressing a press conference, held on a short notice at the National Stadium on Tuesday, PCB media director Samiul Hasan, while updating on the unfortunate developments, said the owners of six franchises and the team managements have been taken on board, while reminding them of their responsibilities.

'The PSL organising committee have told them to exercise extra caution and none have been asked to go in self-isolation. They been reminded to assure proper measures are being taken and the standard operating procedures are being adhered to,' Sami said. 'Since the case of Fawad came positive, 244 PCR tests were undertaken and out of them three were reported positive. All three will...