The Pakistan squad and their staff member has reached New Zealand couple of days ago for the upcoming T20I and Test tour. All the touring members were tested negative for Covid-19 on the four occasions before leaving Pakistan. However, after reaching New Zealand, the six members of Pakistan’s touring squad have tested positive for Covid-19, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) informed on Thursday.
This was reported to the NZC after some of the members of Pakistan squad, which is currently in isolation at a facility in Christchurch, had “contravened protocols on the first day of managed isolation.”
“Two of these six results have been deemed “historical”; four have been confirmed as new,” NZC stated in a media release.
“This means that, in line with the protocols governing the squad’s entry into New Zealand, the six members of the squad will be moved to the quarantine arm of the managed isolation facility,” it added.
“Following the development, the Pakistan team’s exemption to train while in managed isolation has been put on hold until investigations have been completed,” the host board further said.
“Separately, NZC has also been made aware that some members of the Pakistan team had contravened protocols on the first day of managed isolation. We will be having discussions with the tourists to assist them in understanding the requirements,” NZC stated.
“NZC considers public health and safety to be paramount in the hosting of international teams, and is supportive of the Ministry of Health and Government position,” it added.
Pakistan is scheduled to play two four-day warm-up matches from December 10 with the second game clashing with two T20Is of the three-match series starting on December 18. The two-match Test series will then commence on December 26 (Boxing Day Test) with the second and final game of the tour to be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Before that, the Black Caps will be playing three T20Is and two Tests against West Indies beginning Friday.
