Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur has sympathised with the virus-affected England cricket team as it has been hit badly where three players and four support staff members have been tested positive prior to the series against Pakistan. Due to that, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a new team for the series as the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan will go ahead according to the schedule.

Meanwhile, Arthur, whose Sri Lanka team has failed to win a single game in the ODI and T20I series against England, applauded them for the cricket they have played in the last few weeks as well.

“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?'” Mickey Arthur said to TalkSPORT.

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However, veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is currently playing for Durham against Warwickshire in the County Championship, has been named captain for the new squad that will play against Pakistan in three ODIs and as many T20Is from July 8 to 20 as well.

“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,” Ben Stokes wrote in his column for The Mirror.

On the other hand, the ECB has said that the isolated players would likely be available to play the Twenty20 matches against Pakistan which are scheduled on July 16, 18 and 20 as well.

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“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 expressed.