Depleted Pakistan squad begins tour of England - in pictures

Team to play three Tests and three T20s in August and September

Pakistani cricketers Babar Azam, right, Imad Wasim, left, and Imam-ul-Haq at the Allama Iqbal International airport in Lahore on Sunday before their departure to England. AFP/PCB

Police vans escort vehicles carrying Pakistan's cricket team as they leave for the airport in Lahore on Sunday for the tour of England. AFP

Sarfaraz Ahmed, left, and Asad Shafiq at the Allama Iqbal international airport in Lahore before their departure to England. AFP/PCB

A police van escorts a vehicle carrying Pakistan's players as they leave for the airport in Lahore. Pakistan's team left for the tour of England on Sunday without 10 players who tested positive for coronavirus at least once this week. AFP

Pakistan's team left for the tour of England on Sunday. AFP

Pakistan began the tour of England without 10 players who tested positive for coronavirus at least once this week. AFP

The Pakistan team began their tour of England on Sunday without 10 players who had tested positive for coronavirus.

After first testing positive this week, follow-up tests were given to Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Haider Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain and Kashif Bhatti.

Out of the 10 players, Haider, Rauf, Bhatti and Imran tested positive again. Players will be allowed to travel only after returning two negative tests.

Test captain Azhar Ali said his players were eager to get back on the field.

"All the players are excited after a tough period," Azhar was quoted as saying by AFP.

"Though a tour to England has always been challenging, our performances there on the last two tours are encouraging and we will try to repeat those."

Pakistan drew a four-Test series 2-2 in 2016 and a two-match series 1-1 in 2018.

The team took a chartered flight to Manchester for a three-Test and three T20 series that will be played in August and September.

The squad will be placed in isolation for two weeks on arrival before continuing their preparations ahead of the first Test with two four-day warm-up games. The dates of the matches have not been announced yet.

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Pakistan players left out