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Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur has said that what had happened with the England cricket team due to COVID will affect the team as the coronavirus outbreak affected seven members and forced to change the entire squad ahead of their series against Pakistan at home.
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Mickey Arthur feels 'desperately sorry' for England team Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur has said that what had happened with the England cricket team due to COVID will affect the team as the coronavirus outbreak affected seven members and forced to change the entire squad ahead of their series against Pakistan at home. Three players and four staff members of England's white-ball team have been tested positive for Covid- 19 in Bristol, one day after the rain-affected final match of the ODI series against Sri Lanka as well. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) meanwhile said that the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan will take place as per schedule. Arthur, whose Sri Lankan sides failed to win a single game in the ODI and T20I series against England, praised the 50-over world champions for the game they have played in the last few weeks.
"I feel so desperately sorry for that England team because they are a hell of a good cricket side at the moment. They were on a roll, they were playing really well and they just looked the part. For them to have to go and self-isolate now is really, really tough. And the cheeky part of me said, 'jeez, why couldn't we play against the 18 that have just come in?' Arthur told TalkSPORT. Veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is currently playing for Durham against Warwickshire in the County Championship, will lead the entirely new squad that will take on Pakistan in three ODIs and as many T20Is from July 8 to 20. "Well, that escalated quickly! To say that I wasn’t expecting to be leading England out in a one day match in Cardiff this week would be a huge understatement. But here we are, and duty calls," Stokes wrote in his column for The Mirror. "We're in unprecedented territory, in terms of replacing an entire squad and management team, and I'm very proud of how everyone has come together in order to get it done..." managing director of England men's cricket Ashley Giles said. Follow CricadiumStats, Latest Cricket News, Live Cricket Score, Fantasy Tips and Today Match Prediction Stay updated Indian cricket team with all the cricketing roster, records, history & action.