New Zealand health officials refused to lift a ban on Pakistan's coronavirus-hit cricket team training during quarantine on Friday after the touring party's number of infections climbed to 10.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The team was confined to their rooms when the first cases emerged last week but had hoped to resume training before finishing their stint in isolation on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, health chiefs said the risk of further infections was too great. Ten people among the 53-member tour party have tested positive for Covid-19 while completing two weeks of isolation in Christchurch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I have very carefully considered this situation," director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said in a statement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"At this time, I continue to have ongoing concerns about the risk of cross-infection within the squad."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The decision means that Pakistan's cricketers will have only 10 days to prepare for their first tour match, a Twenty20 international in Auckland on December 18, and probably less when travel is factored in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bloomfield said the decision was prompted by the number of active cases detected among the squad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Public health considerations will continue to be foremost in our response to Covid-19, whether this involves individuals or teams," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We appreciate the challenges that this decision will have for the touring team."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bloomfield issued the team with a "final warning" last week for flouting social distancing protocols at their hotel and no further breaches have been reported since.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tourists arrived in New Zealand on November 24 and are scheduled to play three T20s and two Tests.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand has largely eradicated community transmission of coronavirus, recording just 1,713 cases and 25 deaths in a population of five million.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2020\/12\/new-zealand-denies-pakistan-cricket-team-to-train-as-covid-cases-rise.jpg", "alt_img": "image for cricket pakistan cricket team in new zealand", "alt_title": "Pakistan Cricket Team", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "New Zealand Denies Pakistan Cricket Team To Train As Covid Cases Rise At Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Pakistan cricket team denied permission to train by the New Zealand health officials. ", "seo_keywords": "Pakistan Cricket Team", "tag": "", "tagging": "Pakistan Cricket Team,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "new-zealand-denies-pakistan-cricket-team-to-train-as-covid-cases-rise", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2894", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2020-12-04 10:29:36", "updated": "2020-12-04 10:30:52", "img_from": "Pakistan Cricket Team", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "New Zealand, Pakistan Cricket, Covid", "livescore_text": "", "livescore_link": "", "btn_text": "", "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2020-12-04 10:29:36", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2020-12-04 10:29:36", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/new-zealand-denies-pakistan-cricket-team-to-train-as-covid-cases-rise-67956" }