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'Keep me in your prayers': Aussie cricketer in positive COVID test

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·2-min read
Fawad Ahmed, pictured here in action for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.
Fawad Ahmed in action for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Aussie cricketer Fawad Ahmed has tested positive for COVID-19 while playing in the Pakistan Super League.

The 39-year-old leg-spinner, who plays for Perth Scorchers in the BBL, has been put in isolation after the positive result.

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Islamabad United's next match had to be postponed as a result.

Islamabad was set to meet Quetta Gladiators, but the Pakistan Cricket Board rescheduled the game for Tuesday.

"One of our players, Fawad Ahmed tested positive ... and was immediately put in isolation two days ago," the club said in a statement.

All remaining members of Islamabad United and the entire Quetta Gladiators squad tested negative, the PCB said.

"Thanks for all the kind messages, please keep remember (sic) me in ur prayers, much needed," Ahmed tweeted on Monday.

"And please everyone stay safe."

Born in Pakistan, Ahmed gained Australian citizenship in 2013 and has since represented his adopted country.

He has played three one-day internationals and two T20 internationals for Australia.

Ahmed represents Victoria in first-class cricket and has played for the Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers in the BBL.

Fawad Ahmed and David Warner, pictured here in action for Australia in a tour match in 2015.
Fawad Ahmed and David Warner in action for Australia in a tour match against Northamptonshire in 2015. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Pakistan Super League gets first positive case

The cricket board said the decision to reschedule Monday's game was made in the best interests of the competition and to allow players time to "relax, refocus and regroup following the testing".

In his only appearance in the PSL this year, Ahmed took 1-40 against Peshawar Zalmi on Saturday.

Islamabad lost that game by six wickets.

It's the first COVID-19 positive test in Pakistan's top Twenty20 league, which began on February 20.

Peshawar Zalmi captain Wahab Riaz and coach Darren Sammy had previously been forced into a three-day quarantine after coming into contact with a person outside the teamβ€˜s biosecurity bubble.

Players and staff of the four remaining teams, along with match officials, will undergo rapid COVID-19 tests on Monday evening.

with AAP

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