LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 27-player high performance camp for women cricketers that will be staged at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre at the National Stadium in Karachi from Oct 8 to 31.

As part of the PCB Covid-19 protocols, all 27 players and player support personnel will undergo first round of testing at their residences, the cost of which will be reimbursed by the PCB. Players and support personnel with negative tests will then assemble in Karachi, where they will undergo the second round of tests before being allowed to integrate with the larger group.

During the camp, the players and player support personnel will undergo third round of testing to ensure their health and safety. During the training period, the players and player support personnel will follow the bio-secure protocols while being stationed at a hotel in Karachi.

The High Performance Department will appoint the player support personnel, who will be announced in due course.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz said: “It is very refreshing to be at the NHPC, which provides the cricket atmosphere and encourages professional cricketers to get actively involved and utilise the facilities.”

All-rounder Aliya Riaz said: “I know our domestic season has not been announced though the High Performance camp has been unveiled, but we are taking this period as pre-season training and preparation so that they are not rusty when our cricket resumes.”

Cricketers announced for the camp:

Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana Khan, Iram Javed, Javeria Khan, Javeria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali, Nahida Khan, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2020