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Updated: November 29, 2020 22:59:47
The Pakistani team underwent four rounds of testing before leaving their country and only people who tested negative were allowed to board the flight.
A balloon has not yet been launched on the Pakistan tour of New Zealand, but the series – consisting of three Twenty20 Internationals and two Tests – has already made a lot of news, all for the wrong reasons. The tour was plunged into uncertainty after up to seven members of the touring group tested positive for the coronavirus within days of entering New Zealand. The host country, which now has practically no cases of local transmission, has reported several cases of violation of the quarantine protocol, going so far as to say that tourists could be sent home if they did not strictly comply with the regulation.
What happened?
The Pakistani team underwent four rounds of testing before leaving their country and only people who tested negative were allowed to board the flight. In fact, left-handed hitter Fakhar Zaman was left off the team after developing fever and other Covid-like symptoms, even though his test came back negative. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram
However, six of the 53 touring group members – Sarfaraz Ahmed, Rohail Nazir, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Abid Ali and Danish Aziz – tested positive upon their arrival in New Zealand on 24 November. Assistant coach Shahid Aslam also returned a positive result. test result. Another individual did so during routine day 3 testing at a managed isolation facility in Christchurch.
How did the hosts react?
According to Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the country’s director of health, the New Zealand authorities have “a very confused view”. They said Pakistani visitors allowed themselves to mingle in the corridors, share food and not always wear masks – clear violation of isolation protocols. Team training privileges have also been lifted, pending evaluation by health officials. The host government has given them a “final warning” that any further violation will result in the cancellation of the tour.
New Zealand Cricket said in a statement: “We will have discussions with tourists to help them understand the requirements.”
How did the PCB react?
Pakistan Cricket Board went into immediate fire mode. CEO Wasim Khan, while empathetic to players who had to remain in a biological protection bubble even while touring England earlier this year, said “this is a question of respect and credibility of the nation” .
“Observe these 14 days and then you will have the freedom to go to the restaurant and roam freely. They told me in clear terms that if we commit another violation, they send us home, ”Khan told ESPNCricinfo in a Whatsapp message to Pakistani players.
What was the reaction in Pakistan?
Some in Pakistan took the developments as an affront to their country, arguing that New Zealand mistreated their players and disrespected the nation.
Shoaib Akhtar was the former top player to express outrage and argued on his YouTube channel that New Zealand should be indebted to Pakistan for taking the tour during the pandemic so the hosts could earn money for the broadcast. .
“It is not a club team. It is the national team of Pakistan, the largest country on this planet, “the former speedster said.
“Behave yourself and stop making these kinds of statements. Be careful what you say next time. I am deeply hurt, frustrated and angry, “Akhtar added, saying PCB shouldn’t have accepted Kiwi’s remarks while lying down.” They should have called the team back on their own and decided not to play New Zealand for five years. “
After advising Pakistani players to be more careful in what they do, he berated PCB for not sending the group on a charter flight to New Zealand, as was done for the England tour. Apparently, the team traveled from Pakistan to Dubai, then to Kuala Lumpur, before landing in Auckland, increasing the risk of exposure along the way.
He said there should be clarity in advance as to where players would spend their quarantine. He made an exception for the fact that Pakistani players were kept in a facility where other people were also there.
What is likely to happen now?
If there had been more than one positive result in the latest Covid test cycle, there would have been a greater cause for concern, especially for PCBs.
The six players and assistant coach who tested positive on arrival will join the squad after completing the 14-day quarantine in Auckland.
The rest of the team will undergo two more tests, the sixth and twelfth day of isolation before they can leave the quarantine. According to ESPNCricinfo, those who test completely negative can go to the balconies of their rooms and visit a nearby park.
However, if or when he is allowed to train in isolation, he is subject to the decision of the local health authorities.
The three T20Is are on December 18, 20 and 22, ahead of the test series starting on December 26.
Is this the first time that a touring team has violated protocols?
No. The West Indies team is currently in New Zealand and they were also banned from training during the managed isolation period after it was discovered that they shared food and socialized in the corridors of their hotel. This apparently happened after the two bubbles of 20 people each, who were supposed to train separately, mixed, “compromising the integrity of the bubble”.
Cricket West Indies remained red in the face and coach Phil Simmons had to apologize. “I have to apologize to the New Zealand public and to the government that allowed us to come here. It’s embarrassing from our point of view, “he told Newshub.
The team lost four days of training and may have had a less strong result for the T20Is against New Zealand, as they lost their first two games of a three-game streak.
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