Black Caps ‘relatively’ safe
IPL shut down as four teams report new Covid-19 cases
New Zealand Cricket says their 10-strong Indian Premier League playing contingent are isolated in a relatively safe environment following the suspension of the tournament.
The IPL was suspended on Tuesday night following an increase in players testing positive for Covid19. India is in the grip of a second wave of Covid-19, with its number of incidents soaring past 20 million.
Yesterday a fourth team confirmed a player with a positive test with leg spinner Amit Mishra becoming the first member of the Delhi Capitals to test positive for Covid-19.
New Zealand Cricket is liaising with the Indian and England boards and the New Zealand Government to formulate an exit plan.
“The players are in a relatively safe environment and those within affected teams are in isolation. We’ll continue to liaise with the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India], the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] and New Zealand Government authorities in terms of managing their situation.
“But at this juncture, it’s too early to discuss potential options.”
Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner are in the New Zealand test squad and were set to head to England at the end of their respective teams’ involvement in the IPL season.
The Black Caps are set for a twotest series against England starting at Lord’s on June 2 followed by the World Test Championship final against India Southampton starting June 18.
As it stands people arriving in England from India will have to be tested before departure and upon arrival in the UK followed by quarantine in a hotel for 10 days.
Fellow Black Caps Jimmy Neesham, Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Scott Kuggeleijn, Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson are also competing in the IPL and, if needing to come back to New Zealand, would have to do 14 days in MIQ.
Last month Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said NZ Cricket was responsible for making its own decisions about the safety of Kiwi cricketers in India.
“Ultimately these decisions around travel into high risk countries generally will come down to individuals, but also if it’s a workforce, their employers,” she said.