Six members of the Pakistan cricket squad have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Zealand and have been moved from managed isolation into quarantine.
Key points:
- All players were tested four times before their departure to New Zealand and were negative on each occasion
- The Pakistan touring group was tested after arriving on Tuesday
- New Zealand Cricket says CCTV footage showed some squad members had contravened protocols while in isolation
Two of the cases were described as “historical” and four were new.
The Pakistan touring group, including 53 players and officials, was tested after arriving on Tuesday.
All six positive cases were being moved to the quarantine arm of their isolation facility. No members of the public were endangered.
New Zealand Cricket officials said closed-circuit television footage showed some members of the Pakistan squad breached protocols on the first day of managed isolation.
“We will be having discussions with the tourists to assist them in understanding the requirements,” New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in a statement.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said the breaches of isolation rules occurred “despite clear, consistent and detailed communication of expected behaviours while in the facility”.
The Pakistan team’s exemption to practice while in managed isolation will be withheld until an investigation has been completed.
All players were tested four times before their departure from Lahore to New Zealand and were negative on each occasion.
New Zealand Cricket said while the positive cases were disappointing, their early discovery showed New Zealand’s protocols around touring teams were working.
As for the protocol breach, New Zealand Cricket said it would work more closely with the Pakistan squad to ensure it understood and complied with isolation rules.
All members of the Pakistan squad will have to remain in their hotel rooms until further notice.
Pakistan will play three Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand, beginning on December 18, and two Test matches.
The first Test starts on Boxing Day.
New Zealand will play a series against West Indies before it meets Pakistan.
The West Indies squad, which begins a Twenty20 series on Friday, was also found to have breached protocols while in managed isolation earlier this month.
CCTV footage showed players mixing in hotel corridors and sharing food, beaching the requirements of their internal bubbles.
The West Indies squad was forced to cease training after the breaches were discovered.
AP
