A virus has swept through England's squad which could result in their first Test match in Pakistan for 17 years being delayed for 24 hours.
Around 14 members of the touring party are affected by the illness, including captain Ben Stokes, casting a shadow over the highly-anticipated match in Rawalpindi.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Wednesday that it was discussing next steps with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
A final decision is due to be made on Thursday morning – the first scheduled day of the Test match.
England tweeted: “We are in discussions with the PCB regarding the start of the first Test due to a viral infection within our camp.”
All of the squad will be monitored continuously overnight, but a decision is not expected until the morning.
Joe Root addressed the media in place of captain Stokes but the former captain remained upbeat over the chances of the game going ahead.
“It's such a monumental tour and important series for so many reasons,” Root said. “We've waited 17 years to come to Pakistan to play a Test match. It means waiting another day, is that the worst thing in the world?
“We're all desperate to play this game and we know how important it is to the fans of Pakistan and their team as well.
“As far as I’m aware, there are a few guys not feeling 100 per cent. I didn’t feel great yesterday but I woke up better today so hopefully it’s just a 24-hour virus and I don’t think it’s food poisoning or Covid or anything like that.
“I think it’s just one of those things that we’ve unfortunately picked up as a group – we’ve tried to do absolutely everything.
“We’ve prepared really well for this game and sometimes life throws things at you but we’ll do everything we can to be right tomorrow and be right and ready to go.”
Mark Wood missed training on Tuesday through illness with other members reporting symptoms later on in the day.
A training session on Wednesday morning was made optional before the illness struck but head coach Brendon McCullum was on hand to put Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope and Root through their paces in the nets.
Stokes had named his nominal starting XI for the match, including handing a debut to Liam Livingstone and a first Test recall since 2016 for Ben Duckett, but his plans could be forced to change due to the illness.
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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