New Zealand issues a final warning to Pakistan team for breaking quarantine rules

The Ministry of Health of New Zealand has issued a final warning to the visiting Pakistan players for breaking the quarantine rules in Christchurch. Pakistan cricket team has travelled to New Zealand for a three-match T20I series from December 18 followed by a two-match Test series from December 26.

In footage captured by video surveillance cameras, several members of the Pakistan men’s cricket team were captured breaking the isolation rules. However, the Ministry of Health declined from providing the details of the rules that were broken. The visiting team is residing at the Chateau on the Park hotel in Christchurch.

“The breaches happened despite “clear, consistent and detailed communication of expected behaviours”,” a spokeswoman said as quoted by Stuff.

In addition as many as six members of the 53-member Pakistan squad tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the day-one testing. Notably, all members of the Pakistan team had tested negative for the virus before flying to New Zealand.

Authorities revokes training privileges from Pakistan team

The Canterbury District Health Board’s medical officer of health issued a letter to the Pakistan management team stating that all players must stay in their rooms until further notice. Their privilege of training while being in the isolation has also been revoked by the authorities.

“Two of these six results have been deemed “historical”; four have been confirmed as new. 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,” New Zealand Cricket stated in a release.

“As a consequence, the Pakistan team’s exemption to train while in managed isolation has been put on hold until investigations have been completed,” they added.

Speaking about the issue of rule-breaking, Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield said that the visiting countries must stick to the rules that help in keeping the communities safe.

“It is a privilege to come to New Zealand to play sport, but in return teams must stick to the rules that are designed to keep Covid-19 out of our communities and keep our staff safe,” he said.