England's preparation for the opening test against Pakistan has been thrown into disarray by a virus sweeping through the camp, and senior batsman Joe Root said they were doing their best to prepare for the match in Rawalpindi beginning on Thursday.
Skipper Ben Stokes is among several England players who skipped Wednesday's optional training session after being laid low by the bug.
Former captain Root was one of five players who did attend, and he later spoke at the pre-match news conference.
"As far as I'm aware, a few guys are not feeling 100%," Root said. "I didn't feel great yesterday and I woke up a lot better today. So hopefully it's a 24-hour virus. Don't think it's like food poisoning or COVID or anything like that.
"We are trying to do absolutely everything right to make sure we are prepared for this game."
England has already named their starting 11, giving a test debut to Liam Livingstone and recalling Ben Duckett to open with Zak Crawley.
Root effectively ruled out leading England again should Stokes miss the match with illness.
"I don't think so... Hopefully that's not even a conversation that we need to entertain," added the 31-year-old.
They are scheduled to play in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005.
They have hired a chef for the tour after receiving feedback from players who visited Pakistan in September-October for a seven-match T20 series.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam wished the English players a speedy recovery.
"I hope they get better soon. We'd like to face a full-strength England tomorrow."
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the match will start as scheduled at 1000 local time (0500 GMT) on Thursday.
(Reuters)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)