All Pakistan Players Return Negative For COVID-19 In New Zealand

Good news has emerged from Pakistan’s camp that has toured New Zealand for two Tests and three T20Is, starting from the 17th of December. After as many as ten players tested positive for COVID-19 as a result of bio-secure protocols breach, 43 test results have come negative. The games between Pakistan and New Zealand start from the 17th with the first of the three T20Is in Auckland.

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A few days ago, the cameras at a hotel in Christchurch captured Pakistan’s players loitering in the lobbies sharing food and coming in close contact without wearing masks. As a result, they happened to test positive for COVID-19 and copped criticism from New Zealand cricket as well as the government for not abiding by the rules. The nation also issued a warning that any further breach could see the tourists being sent home from New Zealand.

With the positive COVID-19 cases being on the rise, New Zealand’s Health Ministry did not allow Pakistan’s cricketers to train in groups during isolation. It was even after 44 out of the 54 people on tour returned with negative tests while six still had the disease. The nation’s health ministry did not want to take any risk, bearing in mind the concerns about the risk of cross-infection within the squad. PCB CEO Wasim Khan was disappointed with the move to apply the rules on even the 44 people who have tested negative.

Nevertheless, it could change since as per the latest update from the Health Ministry, the laboratories completed the processing of Pakistan’s cricket team day nine swabs and all 43 results turned out as negative. It is indeed an uplifting move for the tourists, who ran the risk of going home humiliated without even playing. At the same time, New Zealand’s cricket administration deserves respect too for handling the matters judiciously and shrewdly.

Below is the confirmation of all Pakistan players testing negative for COVID-19:

Update from New Zealand's Ministry of Health "Laboratories have completed processing of the Pakistan cricket team’s day 9 swabs. All 43 results are negative" #NZvPAK #Cricket #COVID19

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) December 5, 2020