PCB to spend Rs15 million on Covid-19 testing during domestic season

 

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will spend around Rs15 million on players, support personnel and match officials’ Covid-19 testing during the 2020-21 domestic season starting with the National T20 Cup on Sept 30 with first-round matches in Multan and second-round games in Rawalpindi from Oct 9-18.

According to PCB director High Performance Nadeem Khan, on Tuesday each player within the National T20 Cup, National U-19 three-day and one-day competitions, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and Pakistan Cup one-day tournament will undergo tests, a minimum of twice within the lead-up to the tournaments.

The players also are expected to undergo random tests during the tournaments.

The PCB has already announced 192 players for the primary and second XI events, while each of the six U-19 association sides are likely to comprise 20 players. additionally to the present , player support personnel and match officials also will undergo Covid-19 tests as per the protocols, which are being fine-tuned and certain to be confirmed later in the week .

All those involved within the competition will undergo their first tests in their respective cities while the PCB will conduct second round of tests on those that will join the squads following the primary negative tests. The PCB will reimburse costs of the primary tests.

“The minimum cost of a Covid-19 test is Rs6,000 and if you calculate with the amount of tests which will be conducted on the players, player support personnel and match officials during the season, the general cost are going to be around Rs15 million,” Nadeem said. He added that the players who travelled to England for 3 Tests and as many T20 Internationals for a tour which stretched seven weeks are allowed to hitch their respective domestic sides on Sept 25 in order that they can spend time with their families.