Hafeez says he has tested negative for Covid-19

E-Paper | June 23, 2026

All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has tested negative for Covid-19 a day after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said he was among seven more players who contracted the disease ahead of their England tour, the player said on Wednesday.

The PCB confirmed on Tuesday that a total of 10 players, including Hafeez, had tested positive but the 39-year-old said in a tweet that a subsequent examination at a private laboratory in Lahore had cleared him.

Hafeez added that his family had also tested negative and attached a picture of his medical report in the tweet.

Pakistan's test and limited-overs squads will tour England for three tests and three Twenty20 internationals. They were due to fly out this month before going into quarantine ahead of the first test starting on July 30.

England director of cricket Ashley Giles has said that the tour is expected to go ahead.

England return to action following the Covid-19 stoppage with three tests against the West Indies next month with the first scheduled to begin in Southampton on July 8 without spectators.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 24, 2020 03:00pm

What a great and wonderful achievement?

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Waseem

Jun 24, 2020 03:17pm

PCB should hold daily tests for all the players who have tested positive.

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Salman

Jun 24, 2020 03:45pm

So the high numbers we are seeing are fake.

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Jonathan

Jun 24, 2020 03:45pm

Looks like test kits lack reliability and accuracy. It would be better to opt for anti bodies test.

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Jehanzeb Ahmad

Jun 24, 2020 04:04pm

The test is based on PCR, which means that it cannot be a false positive, only false negative. If he tested positive once then he is positive, even if second test comes out negative. The false negative rate of these tests is around 25%. If he gets the test done again, he might come out positive again. Around 30% players tested positive, and if extrapolate it to the general population, around 25-30 percent Pakistanis are positive as of now. This is the reason Emirates has cancelled all flights flying out of Pakistan as almost half the passengers were testing positive.

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Maqbool

Jun 24, 2020 04:23pm

people already have doubts on testing kits, it will make there doubts even stronger.

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Nasir

Jun 24, 2020 04:41pm

Its better for Hafeez, shoaib etc to permanently rest and give young boys a chance to represent Pakistan.

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Malik

Jun 24, 2020 04:41pm

Good news that he is negative, but why did he not contact PCB before posting it on the social media. It just makes the mockery of the system.

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Omar

Jun 24, 2020 04:45pm

Positive or negative, why is he still part of the team. Same goes for Shoaib Malik.

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Grewal

Jun 24, 2020 05:04pm

It’s a reflection of the poor testing conditions and corruption in Pakistan.

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M. Saeed

Jun 24, 2020 05:13pm

It is a proof of the unreliability of testing labs. If really infected and cleared by the labs, the players will jeopardise safety of the English players. The matter has to be double checked to be sure.

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Sadnews

Jun 24, 2020 06:06pm

If the get tested positive after reaching England it would be very bad for the image of the country the expenses of treatment in England would also be something to think about

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Anup

Jun 24, 2020 06:36pm

Only those people's are negative which are not ready for match fixing. It's high time for Pakistan.. Desperate need of money

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Shazad

Jun 24, 2020 07:00pm

Hafeez claims that he got himself tested and came negative. We are talking about Pakistan, where one can get any result out if one wants to, even become pilot of Boing 747 passenger Jet in PIA without pass certificate, though without taking any test. So, we cannot say if test taken by Hafeez is geniune. Now, it is upto Hafeez and PCB to work out if they would take another test of Hafeez or would stick with test they have already taken.

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UDAY KULKARNI

Jun 24, 2020 07:14pm

A question that naturally comes to the mind is "How come so many Test Players got positive in the first place ?" Were the tests on other players also faulty ? Or was it that these test players were practising or training at maybe one or two locations and caught the virus ? Both the possibilities are dangerous especially the 2nd one.

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Abdul Rehman

Jun 24, 2020 07:19pm

With all the doubts in testing results, PCB should have tested at least twice before announcing, specially when there were no symptoms in the players.

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citizen

Jun 24, 2020 07:57pm

Really a greatest news about Hafeez...

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Texas Ranger

Jun 24, 2020 08:00pm

Okay, so in Pakistan you can get a report of any type after paying , money talks

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Philosopher (From Japan)

Jun 24, 2020 08:11pm

I guessHafeez was talking about his batting style and approach than test result was correctly negative.

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Zartaz Gul

Jun 24, 2020 08:17pm

Chinese kits can never be trusted for Coron testing

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sat

Jun 24, 2020 08:31pm

Sorry for Chinese kits.

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Yusuf

Jun 24, 2020 09:03pm

Poor quality testing kits used in this country.

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Mirza

Jun 24, 2020 10:27pm

How can anyone get tested anywhere instead of the designated testing place as selected by PCB. Hafeez may be trying to manipulate the result, should be tested again after 14 days quarantine under PCB supervision.

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Global Citizen

Jun 24, 2020 10:37pm

Any player who tested positive in last one month should not be allowed to enter England.

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bolo_BOLO

Jun 24, 2020 10:44pm

A squad of 28 players with 14 officials on a chartered flight leaves for England. One more player to join a month later. Two players per each official. This is cricket Pakistan style. Other teams may defeat pak team in game but they can't beat the officials style. Pakistan Pindabad.

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Ashley

Jun 24, 2020 11:05pm

chinese testing kits are not reliable.

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Abdullah

Jun 25, 2020 12:07am

...of all the people ....it had to be him...since he has an impeccable record against good pace attach on seaming pitches...

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Sarah

Jun 25, 2020 02:21am

Cricket above people's life. Have common sense ICC and PCB as well as Cricket Board. This is just jumping in the well and assuming people will survive.

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Dr. Rafiq Khan

Jun 25, 2020 03:50am

Hafeez says Hafeez is negative of the coronavirus

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Cricfan

Jun 25, 2020 08:37am

What is the validity of the private testing? Why not accept official test results?

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