Christchurch
Six members of the Pakistan cricket squad, which is currently on a tour to New Zealand, have tested positive for the Coronavirus, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Thursday.
The team also received a “final warning” for flouting quarantine rules. New Zealand health authorities revoked the players’ ability to train while in isolation at their Christchurch hotel, making clear they would not tolerate risky behaviour in a country that has largely eradicated the virus.
In a statement posted on its website, NZC said it was “made aware today that six members of the Pakistan touring squad, currently in managed isolation in Christchurch, have tested positive for Covid-19”. However, the statement did not name the players.
Two of the members who tested positive were “historical cases”, it said, while the other four were new infections. NZC said the infected players would be moved into the quarantine wing of the managed isolation facility where they were staying.
The Pakistan team would also not be able to train until an investigation into the emergence of the cases has been completed, it added.
Meanwhile, the country’s director general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, said in a statement: “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.” Bloomfield said CCTV showed members of the tour party breaching social distancing protocols.—AFP
