New Zealand health officials have cleared almost the entire Pakistan contingent to leave their managed isolation facilities after repeatedly undergoing several Covid-19 tests.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had announced earlier that the 53-member squad, which has been tested for COVID-19 five times since arriving in their country to play three T20Is and two Tests two weeks ago, was scheduled to leave isolation pending final approval from local health officials on Tuesday.
New Zealand Health Ministry: Medical Officer Satisfied Pakistan Squad Members Pose Less Risk After Extensive Testing In Christchurch
The jumbo-squad is expected to leave their managed isolation facility in Christchurch and fly to Queenstown on Tuesday, where they will resume training before the start of 3-match T20I series that begins in Auckland on December 18. The next two T20Is will be played at Hamilton and Napier before the two Tests at Mount Maunganui and Christchurch. The tour, however, will start with two four-day matches against New Zealand A from December 10.
After opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out from New Zealand tour owing to fever, several members of Pakistan squad were found to be covid-19 positive but those were historical cases.
“After extensive testing and completion of their time in managed isolation in Christchurch, the Canterbury DHB medical officer of health is satisfied these people pose a very low risk to the community,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.
One unidentified member of the 53-member strong squad, however, would continue to remain in the facility after testing positive on the sixth day of their mandatory 14-day isolation period that is applicable to all foreign arrivals as part of New Zealand’s stringent rules regarding Covid-19.
New Zealand Will Play 3 T20Is And 2 Test Against Pakistan
According to the Ministry, six members of staff were found to be positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at New Zealand while four others were also identified as positive for Covid-19 during their isolation period, although those cases were considered “historical”.
One member of the squad also repeatedly tested negative in isolation but had been already in quarantine in Auckland after showing signs of infection upon arrival. The squad are scheduled to fly to Queenstown later on Tuesday for an intra-squad game before the first of three Twenty20 matches start on December 18. The team will also play a two-match Test series from December 26 onwards. New Zealand A will play Pakistan A in 2-four day tour matches ahead of the Test series.
Pakistan have recalled Hussain Talat and Sarfaraz Ahmed for 3-match T20I series in a strong 18-member squad. 16-member Pakistan A squad for four-dayers comprising of likes of Test specialists Abid Ali, Haris Sohail, Azhar Ali and Yasir Shah and led by Rohail Nazir have been announced.