CHRISTCHURCH: One more member of the Pakistan cricket squad touring New Zealand has returned a positive coronavirus (Covid-19) test, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said on Wednesday, bringing the total tally of infections within the party to eight.

The latest member will join seven previously-diagnosed team-mates in quarantine.

The new case, confirmed in Canterbury, was one of three that were under investigation from Tuesday, with the other two still to be determined.

A ministry statement, which did not name the person who returned a positive test, said the team is not allowed to train until the Canterbury health officials are satisfied that any training activities are unlikely to result in transmission of Covid-19.

The first six cases involving members of the 53-strong Pakistan squad were detected on the team’s first day in New Zealand last week and the seventh shortly afterwards. Players and officials have since been tested on the third and sixth days of their 14-day period of managed isolation.

The team was stripped of its exemption to practice from the third day of the isolation period when players breached protocols on their first day in their Christchurch hotel.

Squad members were required to spend the first three days in their own rooms before they would be allowed to train in several bubbles. Close circuit television at the hotel captured pictures of players mingling in corridors and sharing food, leading to the removal of the training exemption.

The team was issued with a final warning which might have seen it expelled from New Zealand if further breaches occurred. The Ministry of Health said the teams conduct had significantly improved since the warning of issue.

Two of the eight confirmed cases have been deemed ‘historic’ and not infectious, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) saying those players are in isolation in the facility as the other members of the squad who have tested negative.

The PCB, which has not identified those who tested positive, said all those who return negative tests are expected to be able to train in managed isolation.

“The PCB has been maintaining a close contact with the Pakistan team management in New Zealand and have kept them updated on the return to training process,” the board said in a statement. “The management and the players are fully supportive of the process and keen to get back on to the field as soon as they are compliant with the New Zealand government rules.”

After another round of testing on Sunday, all the players who clear the 14-day health check will be allowed to leave the managed isolation facility.

Pakistan are due to meet New Zealand in three Twenty20 Inter­nationals from Dec 18 and two Test matches starting Dec 26.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2020