Three more Pakistan players in NZ test positive, count stands at 10
NEW DELHI: Three more members of the Pakistan cricket team in New Zealand have tested positive following the second round of Covid-19 testing taking the number of affected players to 10. The result of one more test is pending.
The New Zealand health ministry is still investigating if the cases are historical.
“Day 6 swabs were taken yesterday from the 46 members of the Pakistan cricket squad in Christchurch who to date have returned negative test results for Covid-19. Of those, 42 have subsequently returned a further negative test result.
“Three are under investigation to determine whether they are historical cases, and one test result is pending,” a statement from the Ministry of Health, New Zealand, said on Tuesday.
The ministry also said that the ban on Pakistan team’s training continues till such time as the medical officer of health determines there is no risk in their training.
“The team is not allowed to train until the Canterbury DHB medical officer of health determines they are satisfied that any training activities are unlikely to transmit Covid-19,” the statement added.
The Pakistan cricket squad, comprising support staff, arrived in New Zealand on Nov. 24 and underwent their first test on the third day i.e. Friday. As many as seven members tested positive in that test. They are undergoing a 14-day quarantine.
The Pakistan players were to be tested for the coronavirus on the third, sixth, and twelth days of isolation. Their third and final test will be on Sunday.
They begin their international series against New Zealand on Dec.18 with a T20 International although their warm-up games begin on Dec.10.
Meanwhile, New Zealand will be aiming to make full use of home conditions in their twomatch Test series against the West Indies from Thursday as they bid to move up in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, currently led by Australia.
Black Caps are fourth in terms of percentage points won, the factor that determines the final placings, following a change to the points system announced last week owing to the disruption of international cricket due to the Covid-19 pandemic, stated ICC in a media release on Tuesday.
Winning both matches of the series could see the hosts overtake England and move into third position with 0.625 percentage points ater four series, having previously drawn 1-1 with Sri Lanka and losing 0-3 to Australia before pulling off a 2-0 home series win over India.