New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday (November 26) confirmed six of the touring Pakistan squad members have tested positive for Coronavirus, putting a scare on the series comprising 3 T20Is and 2 Tests from December 18. 

The NZC further informed, two of these six results have been termed "historical" while the rest are new. 

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The board updated putting those tested positive into total quarantine and taking away the exemption to train while in managed isolation from the entire team as a precautionary measure. 

"In line with the protocols governing the squad’s entry into New Zealand, the six members of the squad will be moved to the quarantine arm of the managed isolation facility," said NZC in a media release. 
 
"As a consequence, the Pakistan team’s exemption to train while in managed isolation has been put on hold until investigations have been completed."

"While this is disappointing for the Pakistan squad, the testing outcomes and the actions taken show the Government system is working."

AFP reported the New Zealand Ministry of Health saying that the 53 Pakistan tourists passed a symptom check before departing from Lahore and were tested on Tuesday (November 24) when they arrived in Christchurch. 

In wake of the developments, the ministry has said players will now "be tested a minimum of four times while in managed isolation" and the entire touring party will be confined to their hotel rooms. 

Given the fact that New Zealand has made a heroic effort these past few months to contain the virus, the health authorities don't want to take any risk. 

The NZC, on its part, mentioned communication from the government that there had been a breach of the health protocols too by Pakistan players. 

"Several team members have been seen on CCTV at the facility breaching managed isolation rules, despite clear, consistent and detailed communication of expected behaviours," the ministry was quoted saying in the report. "The team as a whole has been issued with a final warning."

Ashley Bloomfield, a top government health official, added, "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 and keep our staff safe."

(Inputs from AFP)