Misbah-ul-Haq says 'protocol breaches were unintentional' post New Zealand govt's warning

Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq feels his players were "unlucky" to have contracted coronavirus during ir stay in Christchurch and said that quarantine protocol breaches were "unintentional". Seven members of Pakistan squad tested positive for COVID-19 after ir arrival in New Zealand on vember 24. Meanwhile, visiting team has been given a final warning by New Zealand government after some of its players had breached quarantine protocols. 

' breaches were unintentional': Misbah-ul-Haq

" breaches were unintentional in first day and it happened moving lugg here and re. It was a weird situation and New Zealand clarified afterward that Pakistan had followed protocols but never less main point is we couldn't practice due to positive results those 14 days," said Misbah during a virtual press conference on Friday.

"w we are out of quarantine and trying to make up for time lost. It's tough to do a work of three weeks in seven days but we are trying to give our best. Want to be in best shape before December 18 in Auckland," he added.

neless, former Pakistan skipper also went on to add that y respect strict rules in New Zealand with regards to COVID-19 and n mentioned that y have to make amends for lost time as y are back on field.

"Due to COVID, rules are very strict in New Zealand and we respect that. And w we have moved out of quarantine after spending 14 days in isolation. We were t able to practice in last 14 days. "I think we were a bit unlucky in this regard that we couldn't practice after three days and lost a lot of time due to coronavirus cases but w we are back on field," coach-cum-chief selector furr added.

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Pakistan tour of New Zealand 

Batting sensation Babar Azam will be leading 1992 World Cup winners in all three formats while wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan will be his Test deputy and bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan will be vice-captain in shortest format. Azam had replaced Azhar Ali who was Pakistan's captain in red-ball cricket.

Pakistan will be visiting New Zealand for a three-match T20I series that will be followed by a two-match Test series between 18 December 2020 to 7 January 2021. Test series will form part of inaugural 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship.

(With ANI Inputs)

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(Im Courtesy: AP)