Pakistani players arrive at Wellington airport on Tuesday. Twitter photo

Gulf Today Report

Six members of Pakistan's national cricket team tested positive for COVID-19 and have been moved from managed isolation into quarantine in New Zealand.

This threw preparations for their five-match tour into turmoil and caused a scare in a country that has largely eradicated the virus, hosts New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Thursday.

"Two of these six results have been deemed "historical"; four have been confirmed as new," NZC stated in a media release.

READ MORE

Imran Khan invites Afghan cricket team to tour Pakistan

Pakistan opener Fakhar ruled out of New Zealand tour with fever

Football great Diego Maradona passes away

Argentina's soccer fans weep for superhero Diego Maradona

The Pakistan touring group, including 53 players and officials, was tested after arriving on Tuesday.

Prior to leaving Lahore, all members of the Pakistan touring squad had returned negative results on the four occasions they were tested.

A group photo of all members of the Pakistani touring squad to New Zealand.

"Separately, NZC has also been made aware that some members of the Pakistan team had contravened protocols on the first day of managed isolation. We will be having discussions with the tourists to assist them in understanding the requirements," NZC stated.

The Pakistan team’s exemption to practice while in managed isolation will be withheld until an investigation has been completed.

The squad's "exemption to train while in managed isolation has been put on hold until investigations have been completed", the governing body said, adding that the six positive players would be moved into strict quarantine.

New Zealand Health said the players will now "be tested a minimum of four times while in managed isolation" and the entire squad would be confined to their rooms.