Six touring Pakistan cricketers have tested COVID-19 positive in New
Zealand, New Zealand Cricket announced on Thursday. The board further alleged
that the visitors have breached the bio-secure bubble that put in place for them
and will not be allowed to train while in quarantine.

Led by Babar Azam, the Pakistan squad have arrived in New Zealand on
Tuesday and are currently going through a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

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In a statement, NZC mentioned that “Two of these six results have been
deemed ‘historical’; four have been confirmed as new”, refusing to name the players
who have tested positive.

Ahead of the series beginning on December 18 in
Auckland, all six players are to be shifted to a separate, managed isolation
facility. Pakistan will be playing three T-20 Internationals and two Tests in the
country.

NZC informed that as a result of this incident, the
Pakistan team’s chances of training while remaining in managed isolation have
been negated until the investigation reaches completion.

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“… NZC has
also been made aware that some members of the Pakistan team had contravened
protocols on the first day of managed isolation”, the board stated.

Although,
the board did not specify the exact nature of the breach.

At least
10 cricketers of the Pakistan team had tested positive for the virus before the
England tour earlier in 2020.