Karachi: Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf will miss the second Test against Australia after testing positive for Covid-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Wednesday.
The 28-year-old all-rounder missed the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi due to a hamstring injury.
“Ashraf has tested positive for Covid-19 in his on-arrival test at the Karachi team hotel,” the PCB said in a statement. “He will now undergo a five-day isolation.”
The second Test starts on Saturday in Karachi.
Ashraf has blossomed as a Test all-rounder in the past two years, giving Pakistan much-needed balance in both batting and bowling.
He has so far played 13 Tests, scoring 632 runs with four half centuries and taken 22 wickets.
Ashraf is the second Pakistan player to test positive for the virus after fast bowler Haris Rauf missed the first Test for the same reason.
Fawad Ahmed, Australia’s spin bowling consultant, also tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
Australia are playing in Pakistan for the first time in 24 years, having previously refused to tour over security fears.
The third Test is in Lahore from March 21-25. The tourists will also play three one-day internationals and a single T20I.
Pakistan’s Ashraf to miss second Australia Test due to Covid-19
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Pakistan’s Ashraf to miss second Australia Test due to Covid-19
- The 28-year-old all-rounder missed the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi due to a hamstring injury
- Ashraf has tested positive for Covid-19 in his on-arrival test at the Karachi team hotel – says PCB
Alcaraz defeats Rublev to reach Qatar Open final against Fils
- The Spaniard will face France’s Arthur Fils in Saturday’s final
- Russian Rublev fought back from 3-0 down to level the second set and then saved five match points
DOHA: World number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his unbeaten run in 2026 as he beat defending champion Andrey Rublev 7-6(3) 6-4 on Friday to reach the Qatar Open final, reaching the 12th summit clash in his last 13 tournaments.
The Spaniard will face France’s Arthur Fils in Saturday’s final after the 21-year-old beat Czech Jakub Mensik 6-4 7-6(4) in the second semifinal.
Russian Rublev fought back from 3-0 down to level the second set and then saved five match points, but Alcaraz ultimately prevailed to win his 11th straight match of the season.
“I know what I’m able to do every time that I step on court. For me it’s great. Obviously, the way I’m approaching every match, I’m just really proud about it,” said 22-year-old Alcaraz, who has been a finalist at the last four Grand Slams, winning three of them.
“It’s paying off, all the focus and attention. I’m just happy and proud about myself with how I’m getting better and getting mature I guess.”
Rublev made 14 unforced backhand errors in the first set, but outwitted Alcaraz with precise forehands that nicked the baseline as both players broke the other twice each to go into a tiebreak.
Alcaraz held his nerve to go 6-3 up in the tiebreak as a frustrated Rublev repeatedly smashed the racket on his left knee, breaking a string. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz then pretended to slice but landed a forehand down the sideline to win the first set.
Alcaraz broke Rublev twice to go 5-3 up in the second set and was serving for the match when the world number 14 saved three match points to break back.
But Alcaraz pushed to break again for victory in the next game, and finally converted his sixth match point when Rublev’s backhand landed wide.
Fils reached his fifth career final with a commanding victory over world number 16 Mensik in just over 90 minutes. The Frenchman — who suffered a lower back stress fracture during the 2025 French Open that led to eight months out of the game — committed fewer unforced errors in an otherwise even match, while saving seven of eight break points and converting two of five.
“Eight months without playing, watching others and staying in bed. It was a long and difficult ordeal. But today, the comeback is all the more sweet. It means a lot to me to be in the final,” said Fils.
