The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to send a large group of players for their team’s tour of New Zealand, scheduled to take place in December and January.

According to Press Trust of India, the PCB is keen on sending around 40 to 45 players for the tour, which also includes players for the Pakistan ‘A’ squad.  

“Enhanced number of players will be in both squads due to strict Covid-19 regulations and protocols in New Zealand and the players and officials, after reaching there early, have to spend 14 days in quarantine and enter a bio-secure bubble before starting their matches,” a PCB source said.

Apart from the senior team’s commitments on the tour, the Pakistan ‘A’ side has a number of four-day matches lined up on the tour.

But with so many players leaving for New Zealand, the level of competition in the PCB’s upcoming domestic season can take a major hit.

“The problem is that due to the Covid-19 situation, if so many top players are sent to New Zealand, the quality of the domestic competitions will be badly hit,” the source added.

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It must be noted that, earlier in August, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had said that Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh and the West Indies had all confirmed they will tour during the upcoming home season, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said managed isolation arrangements for the visiting teams were still being worked out with officials in Wellington, but the tours would proceed.

All international arrivals into New Zealand are currently required to spend at least 14 days in strictly supervised quarantine.