Pakistan’s left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has returned positive for Covid-19, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday.
Following the development, the cricketer has been quarantined for 10 days ahead of the limited overs series against New Zealand.
“Mohammad Nawaz has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been quarantined as per the PCB Covid-19 Protocols,” said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a statement.
Nawaz was part of the 15-member Pakistan squad that is due to take on New Zealand between September 17 to October 3.
While the ODIs will be played in Rawalpindi on September 17, 19 and 21, the T20Is will be held in Lahore on September 25, 26, 29, October 1 and 3.
The PCB has allowed 25% crowd capacity for the upcoming series.
The Kiwi cricket team will reach Pakistan on September 11 from Bangladesg and will serve room isolation for three days on September 12, 13 and 14 before playing practice matches on September 15 and 16.
New Zealand cricket team will be exempted from Covid-19 test at all airports in Pakistan after they arrive to play an ODI and Twenty20 series against the hosts on September 11.
The Civil Aviation Authority ( CAA) of Pakistan has exempted the Kiwi cricket team from the necessary Covid-19 test at all airports in the country after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had urged the authority to do so.
Notably, the Kiwi cricket team will be touring Pakistan after a long gap of 18 years.
Earlier, New Zealand’s tour to Pakistan was cut short in 2002 after a bomb explosion outside the team’s hotel in Karachi.
New Zealand had last played an ODI series in Pakistan in 2003.
“Approval is hereby accorded in respect of New Zealand cricket team, with details mentioned in the enclosed documents(s), for travel to Pakistan without Rapid Antigen Testing upon arrival in Pakistan,” CAA said in its letter.
After completing their ongoing Bangladesh tour, the New Zealand cricket team will fly to Pakistan on a chartered plane of Bangladesh’s Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight and land at the Islamabad airport on September 11.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s federal cabinet had approved the security plan for the series.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry had said that “extraordinary” security would be provided to the New Zealand team, as an unfortunate incident had occurred during their last tour to Pakistan.
The three ODIs will be part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League ODIs..