Australian spin coach Fawad positive to COVID-19

Australia's spin-bowling consultant Fawad Ahmed has tested positive to COVID-19 ahead of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

Fawad has been in isolation since arriving from the Pakistan Super League on Monday and had not yet interacted with other members of the Australian squad.

Despite the 40-year-old coming from the PSL bubble, Australian medical staff required him to isolate before joining the main group. He returned a positive test after experiencing mild symptoms.

He will now isolate for a further five days, as per government regulations, and will need to return two negative test results before joining the Australian team.

The rest of the Australian touring party has tested negative in their routine testing.

The news comes after Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf, a teammate of Fawad's at the PSL, tested positive and was ruled out of the first Test.

Star Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi also played in the same team, Lahore, that won the PSL on Sunday.

Images on social media indicate Fawad and Afridi sat next to each other on the plane following the PSL final, while Rauf was also on that flight.

Fawad become ill after testing positive to the virus during the PSL last year - before he was fully vaccinated - and experienced breathing problems for months afterwards.

"But this virus, it's bloody tough," he told cricket.com.au last year.

"I struggled, but I can't imagine how older people and poor people are struggling with this virus."

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Nauman Ali, Naseem Shah, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood. Reserves: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Haris

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports