Pakistan's Hafeez to self-isolate after bio-security protocol breach

On Wednesday, Mohammad Hafeez tweeted a picture of himself with an elderly lady from the golf course adjacent to the team hotel despite strict rules.

Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez during a training session (File Photo).

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), furious with former captain Mohammad Hafeez for his breaching of the biosecurity protocol imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the ongoing away series, has said the all-rounder will self-isolate until he tests negative for COVID-19.

“As it was evident from the photograph that Hafeez had breached the two-metre social distancing protocol...the team management has decided to isolate him until he returns a negative COVID-19 test,” the Board said in a statement.

The former skipper, who is not a part of the Test squad is there for the limited-overs leg.

On Wednesday, Hafeez tweeted a picture of himself with an elderly lady from the golf course adjacent to the team hotel despite strict instructions that they shouldn't interact with anyone outside the bubble.

Met an inspirational Young lady today morning at Golf course. She is 90+ & & living her life healthy & happily.Good healthy routine pic.twitter.com/3tsWSkXl1E

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) August 12, 2020

A source close to the Pakistan team said Hafeez’s breach of protocol had upset everyone as all players had been told specifically to avoid interaction with anyone outside the bio-secure bubble since the course is open to the public in Southampton.

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Hafeez put himself in trouble when he posted a tweet of himself and the lady terming her as inspirational.

The ECB medical team is aware of the breach of protocol and Hafeez will most likely have to isolate himself for five days and then undergo two negative COVID-19 tests before he rejoins the team again.

Hafeez was among those players who had tested positive before travelling to England but then created an embarrassing situation for the PCB when he privately got himself tested and the result was negative which he posted on his Twitter account.

He returned two more negative tests before being permitted to travel to the UK.

The ECB is taking any breach of the biosecurity protocol very seriously and fast bowler Jofra Archer was also reprimanded and was dropped for the second Test against West Indies after he also breached the biosecurity bubble by going to his apartment in Brighton.

Hafeez, a veteran allrounder has in the past also got himself into trouble with his statements on Pakistan cricket and selection matters.