Lahore
The New Zealand authorities on Monday have given permission to the Pakistani squad to leave the managed isolation facility after 52 members tested negative for the coronavirus. Pakistan had their exemption to train revoked last week after eight members of squad tested positive during their stay in isolation.
Green shirts, after being given final approval, are to head to Queenstown for intra-squad warmup matches before the Twenty20 series starts on Dec 18. The team will leave on Tuesday after regrouping at a hotel in Christchurch. However, the squad will leave behind one member who will join them in Queenstown on Thursday after completing his managed isolation period. Pakistan will play three T20Is and two Test matches in New Zealand next month. On the sidelines, Pakistan Shaheens will also play two four-day games against New Zealand A on the tour.
The permission to leave the managed isolation facility was given after the Pakistan squad tested negative when their samples were taken on day 12 of the isolation period. Coach Misbah-ul-Haq said on Sunday the team had been affected by being restricted from training while in isolation. Last week, New Zealand health authorities stated that two of three cases that returned with positive PCR on day six of testing earlier are now confirmed as “historical cases” and not infectious anymore.
The New Zealand Cricket Board authorities had earlier said that some members of the Pakistani team had “violated safety protocols on the first day of managed isolation”. Former Pakistan cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed on Sunday said that ‘New Zealand is a dangerous team on home soil and the tour won’t be easy for Pakistan’. He said that the Pakistan team, under Babar Azam, will have to play extremely well in order to succeed.
‘Mental toughness is extremely important in this regard and the entire team will have to play without the fear of losing,’ Mushtaq added. The former leg-spinner said that it’s the responsibility of the team management and the captain to keep the team united during the isolation period. While appreciating the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB)’s decision of appointing Babar Azam as the captain in all three formats, Mushtaq said the batsman has what it takes to lead the team. ‘It’s a good decision to make Babar Azam the captain in all formats because he has shown that captaincy does not affect his batting,’ he said.
‘He has the ability to become a great captain in the future and has taken good decisions on the field so far,’ he added. The touring contingent is currently spending their 14-day mandatory quarantine period in Christchurch and will leave for Queenstown on December 8. Pakistan are scheduled to play three Twenty20 Internationals and two Test matches against New Zealand from December 18 to January 7.—Agencies
