Three more Pakistan team members test positive for COVID-19 in New Zealand

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand is in more trouble now after three more members of the touring party have been tested positive for COVID-19. The tally has now reached 10 with seven others already testing positive in earlier tests. The visitors are already on a final warning after breaching the tight quarantine restrictions and their preparations are also hindered with coronavirus cases increasing.

Pakistan and New Zealand are scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests with the tussle in the shortest format set to begin on December 18. The first of the two Test match will be commencing on December 26 even as a couple of four-day matches set to start on December 10 and 17. However, it remains to be seen if these games will go ahead with the active cases in the touring camp.

NZ director-general of health slam Pakistan

Earlier, New Zealand’s director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield had slammed Pakistan for flouting quarantine rules. The players were supposed to sit in their own rooms but they were spotted sharing food, not wearing masks and roaming in the hotel.

“Rather than being in their own rooms, which is a requirement for the first three days, there was some mingling in the hallways, chatting, sharing food and not wearing masks. I don’t know how many times they did that, but it only needs once for us to take a dim view of it. These players signed up to the arrangements in an undertaking that made what was expected of them very clear.

“At the moment, they are all required to be in their rooms, which was the requirement anyway. The training exemption would not have kicked in until after we had the results of the day-three testing, if we were happy with the results,” he had told RNZ, New Zealand’s public-service radio broadcaster.

Even the PCB CEO Wasim Khan had then told the players in an audio WhatsApp message that they will be sent home if there is yet another breach of protocols. He clearly said in the message that it is a matter of national pride and it would be very embarrassing for the whole nation if the team is sent back without playing.