Australia face personnel issues after more Covid-19 cases on Pakistan tour

Ashton Agar's positive result leaves visitors with 13 fit players for limited-overs series

Australia's Ashton Agar has tested positive for Covid-19 on the Pakistan tour. EPA

Australia’s severely depleted touring side was weakened further on Tuesday after left-arm spinner Ashton Agar tested positive for Covid-19 just hours before the start of their limited-overs series in Pakistan.

Australian team management said physiotherapist Brendan Wilson also tested positive during regular testing of the squad.

Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis was ruled out on Monday because of a positive test, leaving an under-strength Australian squad with just 13 fit players available for the ODI series opener at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Australia picked an original squad of 16 and another illness or injury would make it difficult for them to continue.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was unavailable for at least the start of the three-match series because of a hip injury, and veteran batter Steve Smith was ruled out with an injured elbow.

However, captain Aaron Finch fears Marsh might be out for a long period.

"I don't think he'll be available for this series based on how he was feeling [on Sunday]," Finch told Cricket Australia's website regarding Marsh. "He sustained that injury in a fielding drill. It was a high-intensity, lateral movement drill.

"He bent down to pick it up one-handed and went to throw and felt a twinge in his hip flexor."

Fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and veteran opener David Warner are being rested for the limited-overs leg of the tour after helping Australia to a 1-0 victory in the preceding three-match Test series.

The West Indies were forced to cancel a series in Pakistan in December following an outbreak of Covid among the team after they arrived.

The next two ODIs will be on Thursday and Saturday, also in Lahore. The Australians, on their first tour of Pakistan since 1998, are also scheduled to play one T20 in Lahore.