Covid 19 outbreak in England cricket team: Team director Giles does not see bubble breach
Giles remarks come as three England players and four members of the backroom staff tested positive for Covid-19 and as a result, the management had to choose a completely different squad for the series against Pakistan. The first-choice team has been sent into isolation and now Ben Stokes would lead England in the ODI series against Pakistan.
“I’m very confident the players haven’t breached any of those protocols. We can’t say where it [the virus] originated, but we can identify how some of this has developed through close contact. We haven’t gambled. I don’t believe we’ve gambled at all. We are fully aware of the risks and we are aware of the knife-edge that we are working on all the time,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Giles.
“We are trying to look after our people and keeping them safe while protecting the revenues of the whole game. It is a difficult balance to strike. Let’s stop talking about relaxed protocols.
“If we haven’t got sole use of hotels, if we have grounds with crowds and you have staff coming in and out of the environment then, however much testing you do, there is going to be a risk. We are seeing an almost-impossible situation as society opens and the virus is still spreading,” he added
The ECB named an 18-strong group for the upcoming series against Pakistan. The announcement comes after the news that three members of the initial playing group and four members of the management staff had tested positive for COVID-19, and consequently, the entire squad initially selected was required to isolate.
Ben Stokes will return to the squad to captain the side and Chris Silverwood, who had been due to take some time away during the white-ball series, is back as head coach. In total, there are nine uncapped players in the squad.
