Seventh Pakistan cricketer tests positive for Coronavirus in New Zealand
Seventh Pakistan cricketer tests positive for Coronavirus in New Zealand (Photo/ANI)
A seventh member of the Pakistan touring squad has tested positive for coronavirus, just days after six members were reported positive, New Zealand's Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement on Saturday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB_ CEO Wasim Khan has told his team that the New Zealand government has given them a "final warning" after the team breached quarantine protocols, as reported by ESPN Cricinfo.
Warning the players that "they'll send us home" if they breached one more rule, Khan told the side, "Boys, I spoke to the New Zealand government and they told us there were three or four breaches of protocols. They have a zero-tolerance policy and they've given us a final warning. We understand that this is a difficult time for you, and you went through similar conditions in England. It's not easy. But this is a matter of the nation's respect and credibility. Observe these 14 days and then you'll have the freedom to go to restaurants and roam about freely. They have told me in clear terms that if we commit one more breach, they'll send us home," Cricinfo quoted Khan, as saying in a Whatsapp voice message to the players.
The breaches took place within the touring team and did not affect any other guest at the facility, according to Stuff.co.nz.
"One additional member of the Pakistan Cricket squad has today tested positive during routine testing. The remainder of the results from the squad's Day 3 swab testing - apart from the six who have already returned a positive result, is negative," a statement from the New Zealand Health Ministry read.
The Pakistan side arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday for a month-long tour, which could see them lock horns with BlackCaps in three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and two Tests, including the Boxing Day match.
The Babar Azam-led side was under a mandatory 14-day quarantine period as per COVID-19 protocol. The T20Is are scheduled to be played on Dec. 18, 20, and 22 in Auckland, Hamilton, and Napier respectively. The ICC World Test Championship fixtures will be held in Mount Maunganui and Christchurch on Dec. 26-30 and Jan. 3-7, respectively.