It speaks volumes about a country when its cricket team is grabbing the global headlines for all the wrong reasons as the Pakistan Cricket Team’s failure to abide by the health and safety regulations upon their arrival in New Zealand almost saw them being expelled from the country. An enraged New Zealand government is in no mood to play gracious hosts to the Pakistan cricket team and handle their tantrums with the team now complaining about how poorly they are being hosted in New Zealand.
Ever since the Pakistan cricket team arrived in New Zealand, they have managed to grab the global headlines for all the wrong reasons. Pakistan Cricket Board which dispatched a jumbo squad consisting of 54 members saw its players mingling with each other, sharing meals and not wearing masks which were a serious breach of the biosecure bubble.
For the uninitiated, a biosecure bubble is a new norm which has allowed International Cricket to resume where the movements of each player are thoroughly tracked. Pakistan Cricket Team’s stubborn refusal to abide by safety regulations saw 10 members from their squad test positive for the coronavirus.
The situation had come to a point where the New Zealand Health Ministry had to dispatch a final warning to the Pakistan Cricket Board stating that any more breaches of the regulation will see the touring party being deported from New Zealand.
It is pertinent to note that New Zealand has performed fantastically when it comes to handling the Wuhan virus and has successfully managed to prevent community transmission.
After being humiliated, Pakistan tried to spin the situation by desperately attempting to put the New Zealand authorities in a spot by claiming that the players have been hit “mentally and physically” due to New Zealand’s strict regulations.
“Top professional athletes require a certain environment to prepare so that they can perform at the minimum expected levels every time they represent their countries,” said Coach Misbah-ul-Haq.
He added, while Pakistan “respect and understand” the health and safety regulations, however, “there is no denying the fact that the implementation of certain regulations has affected our athletes, both mentally and physically before an international series”. He then proceeded to pat his players on the back for their “sacrifices and hardships”.
Perhaps this breach of regulations has created a huge sense of mistrust between Pakistan and New Zealand, with the latter not caring two hoots about ensuring the upkeep of the touring contingent.
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After a slew of positive tests confined the Pakistani players to their hotel rooms, the players have now been complaining that their bedsheets and the attached bathrooms have not been cleaned since days with even food being sent in disposable boxes instead of plates.
If Pakistani players’ complaints of not being treated well are true, they have only themselves to blame as they put New Zealand on the brink of yet again being exposed to the Wuhan virus due to their sheer negligence.