6 members of Pakistan squad in NZ test positive for Covid

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.

"The team as a whole has been issued with a final warning," he said. "It's important to note that all incidents of breaches occurred within the facility and there is no risk to the public." All members of the Pakistan cricket squad that left for New Zealand on Monday had been tested for the virus beforehand on four occasions, the results of which had come back negative.