Phil Salt called up for Pakistan ODIs after original squad forced to isolate

Sussex's Phil Salt has been included in the England squad for the Royal London ODI Series against Pakistan, starting at Sophia Gardens on Thursday 8th July.

The 18-man squad replaces that originally announced after three members of the initial playing group and four members of the the management staff tested positive for COVID-19, and consequently the entire squad initially  - including Sussex's George Garton -  selected was required to isolate.

The ECB can confirm that seven members of the England Men's ODI party have tested positive for COVID-19.

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 6, 2021

Ben Stokes will return to the squad to captain the side and Chris Silverwood, who had been due to take some time away during the white-ball series, is back as Head Coach. 

In total, there are nine uncapped players in the squad.

Ben Stokes (Durham, captain)
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)
Danny Briggs (Warwickshire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Lewis Gregory (Somerset)
Tom Helm (Middlesex)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Matt Parkinson (Lancashire)
David Payne (Gloucestershire)
Phil Salt (Sussex)
John Simpson (Middlesex)
James Vince (Hampshire)

Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, Ashley Giles, said: "It's a great opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and for most of the players selected it's not necessarily something they would have been expecting 24 hours ago.

"It's an exciting group of players, with some young talent and some players who have impressed at domestic level over a long period of time.

"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 - both those within the ECB and from the county game.

"Ben hasn't captained our ODI side before so it's a huge honour for him. We all wish him well and it's a role I'm sure he'll thrive in.

"I'd like to also put on record the thanks of the ECB to the PCB for their support and understanding during this time."

Royal London ODI Series fixtures

1st ODI: England v Pakistan, Thursday 8 July 2021, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (1.00pm BST)
2nd ODI: England v Pakistan, Saturday 10 July 2021, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London (11.00am BST)
3rd ODI: England v Pakistan, Tuesday 13 July 2021, Edgbaston, Birmingham (1.00pm BST)