PAK vs AUS: Australia’s spin-bowling consultant Fawad Ahmed tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of first Test

Australia’s spin-bowling consultant Fawad Ahmed has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the first Test against Pakistan starting here on Friday.

Fawad, who is experiencing mild symptoms, has started his five-day isolation period. He will leave the isolation only after two negative results come.

The 40-year-old, who was born in Pakistan and played three ODIs and two T20Is for Australia, was part of the Lahore Qalandars squad in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League. Fawad arrived at the Australia team’s hotel on Monday, where he was to begin his role as spin bowling consultant. He was tested immediately on arrival and came back positive.

According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the right-handed batsman did not interact with anyone from the Australian travel team before testing positive. And all of Australia’s squad and touring party took Covid tests on Wednesday, returning negative results.

Fawad is the second person on this tour to be affected by Kovid-19. Earlier this week, Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf – also part of Qalandars’ setup – tested positive and was ruled out of the first Test.