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No training exemption for Pakistan in NZ

3 minute read

The touring men's Pakistan cricket team will be spending the entirety of their COVID-19 quarantine in their hotels and won't be allowed to train.

Pakistan have suffered a major blow in their tour of New Zealand, with health authorities not allowing the cricketers to train until the conclusion of their quarantine.

Like all arrivals, the 53-strong party have been required to spend at least 14 days in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) regime.

Since arriving in Christchurch and submitting for testing to the deadly virus, 10 have returned positive results.

A minority of those have been deemed 'historical', and not infectious, but the others have been moved to quarantine facilities and treated for the virus.

Pakistan players were also caught breaching MIQ regulations earlier in their stay by mingling in hallways.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said he couldn't be confident Pakistan players wouldn't release COVID-19 among each other or the community.

"I have very carefully considered this situation. At this time, I continue to have ongoing concerns about the risk of cross-infection within the squad," he said.

"There have been a number of active cases identified (and) public health considerations will continue to be foremost in our response to COVID-19."

The players and staff members are currently on day 10 of their isolation, and still awaiting day nine testing results taken on Thursday.

The lack of exemptions is a huge setback for the team, which begins its tour on December 18 with a three-game T20 series, before playing Tests in Wellington and Christchurch.

Pakistan are the first touring side since the onset of the pandemic to be denied exemptions, since they were first negotiated in the lead-up to the Bledisloe Cup.

They have since been used by the England women's netball side and the West Indies cricket side, currently in action against the Black Caps.