Quetta Gladiators' Anwar Ali tests positive for COVID-19

The franchise management has confirmed that Anwar Ali has been ruled of PSL 6.

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Quetta Gladiators, who are the bottom-ranked team in the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), have suffered another blow as bowling allrounder Anwar Ali has tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The franchise management has confirmed the news and the 33-year-old has been ruled of the Abu Dhabi-leg of the marquee tournament. Anwar Ali is currently under quarantine in Karachi.

Earlier on Monday, Quetta’s Naseem Shah was released from isolation in Lahore after he breached the protocols for departure from Pakistan by arriving at the designated hotel with a non-compliant RT-PCR test result.

As such, the fast bowler will not be travelling to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 26 May and is now out of the competition.

Read details: Naseem Shah released from isolation

As per the COVID-19 protocols for the remaining PSL 6 matches, all those traveling through chartered flights from Karachi and Lahore were directed to assemble at the team hotels in Karachi and Lahore on 24 May with negative reports of PCR tests taken not more than 48 hours prior to arrival at the hotel.

However, Naseem presented a PCR report from a test that was conducted on 18 May. Upon submission of the report, he was placed into isolation on a separate floor before being released following a decision made by a three-member panel on the recommendation of the independent Medical Advisory Panel for PSL.

Read also: Abu Dhabi set to host electrifying PSL T20 action

It is pertinent here to mention that the Pakistan Super League is set to return Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium next month. The picturesque stadium will host 20 matches of the sixth edition, which will mark the second instance of the venue staging PSL games.

It was during the 2019 edition when the stadium hosted the PSL for the first time when four league matches of the fourth season were played here.