Image Credit- AFP
Things seem to be going from bad to worse for the
Pakistan side as their World Cup campaign continues. After being handed a
thrashing against archrivals India on Saturday, coupled with the constant sense
of strife with regards to visas not being issued to Pakistani fans and
journalists, it has now been revealed that the Pakistani camp has now been hit
with a bout of viral infection ahead of their key clash vs Australia in
Bangalore, with several players affected.
Opener Abdullah Shafique, who has replaced Fakhar
Zaman and has been a positive influence at the top of the order, has been put
in quarantine after suffering from flu and fever. Apart from Shafique, pace
spearhead Shaheen Afridi, middle-order bat Saud Shakeel, and back-up pacer
Zaman Khan have also reported to be affected with a certain degree of symptoms.
However, it has been confirmed that this is not dengue, which was the initial
prognosis.
“Some players got fever in the past few days and
most of them have fully recovered from it,” the PCB said in a statement.
“Those who are in the stage of recovery remain under the team medical panel’s
observation.”
Pakistan will be hoping that the affected members
return back to full fitness as each of those players are a key member of the
Pakistan starting 11, and will be needed to play an Australia side that will be
riding a wave of confidence after opening their account for the tournament vs
Sri Lanka.