Seven members of England squad test positive for COVID-19 ahead of Pakistan series

In an official statement, the ECB wrote, "Following PCR tests administered yesterday (Monday) in Bristol, The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) can confirm that seven members - three players and four management team members - of the England Men's ODI party have tested positive for COVID-19,".

As per sources, the test of Captain Ian Morgan has also come positive.

“We have been mindful that the emergence of the delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio-secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak,” ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison stated.

He further added, “We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.”

For the time being, the players who have contracted the virus will now self-isolate from July 4 following the UK Government's quarantine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

However, the remaining members have been deemed close contacts and will also isolate.

It should be noted that all COVID positive people can play back after completing the quarantine and Ben Stokes will captain for the ODI series against Pakistan.

Reportedly, the six-match limited-overs series against Pakistan, starting on Wednesday with the first ODI in Cardiff, was still going ahead.

Meanwhile, England planned to name a new squad on Tuesday to be captained by Ben Stokes.