West Indies' ongoing tour of Pakistan has been cast into doubt with five more members of the touring party testing positive for Covid-19. The five include players Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, and Justin Greaves, along with assistant coach Roddy Estwick and team physician Dr Akshai Mansingh.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed that all three players will be unavailable for the remaining games - one T20I on Thursday and three ODIs - and that all five members who tested positive will remain in isolation for 10 days. They will not be allowed to join the main group until they return negative tests. Once all remaining members of the touring party have been tested again, CWI and PCB officials will meet to determine if the tour can continue.
With Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers having already been ruled out due to positive Covid-19 tests earlier, and a finger injury to Devon Thomas (sustained during the first T20I), the West Indies are now short of six players, raising questions over the viability of the tour continuing.
That leaves the tourists with only 14 available players to choose from in their T20I and ODI squads, with the batting particularly hard hit. Only Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks and Darren Bravo remain available among specialist batters.
Cottrell, Chase and Mayers had returned positive results in the initial tests that were done after the team's arrival in Karachi on December 9. The trio missed both the T20Is that have been played so far, with Pakistan taking a series-winning 2-0 lead after winning both. The third T20I is scheduled for Thursday, December 16.
West Indies were already without many of their senior players for the tour, due to rest, injuries or personal reasons, with none of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis or Fabian Allen available.