Pakistan v England: Eight touring players have virus before first Test

The England squad, including skipper Ben Stokes, has been affected by a microorganism connected the eve of the archetypal Test against Pakistan successful Rawalpindi.

About fractional of the playing squad of 16 has been hit, with lone 5 taking portion successful an optional grooming session.

The archetypal lucifer successful the three-Test bid begins connected Thursday (05:00 GMT).

Lancashire all-rounder Liam Livingstone is owed to marque his Test debut for England, portion opener Ben Duckett has been recalled to play his archetypal Test successful six years.

Joe Root, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope and Keaton Jennings were the players astatine grooming connected Wednesday, portion caput manager Brendon McCullum was besides successful attendance.

The symptoms of those affected are not related to Covid-19 and the anticipation is determination volition beryllium a betterment wrong 24 hours.

England person not named an authoritative vice-captain during Stokes' reign arsenic skipper, though Pope led the squad successful Stokes' lack successful a warm-up crippled against England Lions past week.

The Test volition beryllium England's archetypal successful Pakistan successful 17 years aft they halted touring the state pursuing an onslaught by gunmen connected the Sri Lanka squad autobus successful 2009.

England archetypal returned for a T20 bid successful September and November, winning 4-3.

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