BRADFORD's England international cricketers Adil Rashid and Jonny Bairstow have been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan after a Covid outbreak.

England are having to pick an entirely new squad after seven members of the England party tested positive for Covid-19 - three players and four members of the management team.

It means they have to isolate, and the entire squad - who recently wrapped up a dominant one-day series whitewash against Sri Lanka - also have to isolate as close contacts.

This includes Bradford cricketers Adil Rashid and Jonny Bairstow and fellow Yorkshire team-mates Joe Root and David Willey.

It means an entirely new squad needs to be selected ahead of the first ODI against Pakistan which takes place on Thursday.

Northern Superchargers star Ben Stokes will captain the new squad, which is set to be announced in the next few hours.

Tom Harrison, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, said: ‘‘We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak.

"We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.

"Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to captain.

"We also recognise the impact this news will have on our First Class Counties and their men’s playing squads and thank them, along with our partners Sky and Royal London, for their ongoing support in dealing with this pandemic.’’