The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Board on Thursday, confirmed that six players from Pakistan have tested positive for Covid-19. The Pakistan squad led by Babar Azam arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday in connection with T20I series and is serving the mandatory 14-day quarantine period as per Covid-19 protocol.
However, according to NZC, several members of the team had breached the protocol by mingling with each other and not wearing masks when they were supposed to be in isolation.
“Several team members have been seen on CCTV at the facility breaching managed isolation rules, despite clear, consistent and detailed communication of expected behaviours,” the health ministry revealed, adding that the whole team has been issued a final warning and could be sent back home if they breach protocol one more time.
Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan is said to have sent an audio message over Whatsapp to the team in New Zealand reminding them of their responsibilities.
The Pakistan tour to New Zealand will be commencing on December 18 with the first T20I. However, with this development, the Pakistan’s preparations for the series could be in jeopardy.
Earlier, Pakistan cricketer Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the New Zealand tour after developing symptoms of Covid-19.
According to the New Zealand health ministry, before taking off from Lahore, 53 members of the Pakistan squad passed a symptom check. On their arrival at Christchurch in New Zealand on November 24, the squad were tested for Covid-19.
The tour will be commencing on December 18 at Auckland. Pakistan will take on the Kiwis in three T20I and two tests.
