New Zealand-Bangladesh series under doubt owing to quarantine issues

Bangladesh and New Zealand are scheduled to play two Test matches starting from January 1. However, as per the recent turn of events, the series has been placed under doubt after Bangladesh’s spin bowling consultant Rangana Herath returned with Covid 19 positive test.

Following this, the touring party was asked to not undertake any practice sessions until December 21. They were sent back to quarantine as there are discussions that the series might be rescheduled owing to the quarantine issues. As per reports, if Bangladesh is asked to stay in quarantine beyond December 21, it may lead to the Test series getting scheduled to a later date.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan opened up on the entire matter. He stated that the cricketers are exhausted both mentally and physically because of being in the bubble for a longer period of time.

We have informed them that it is difficult for us to play without sufficient preparation: Bangladesh Cricket Board President

“Our cricketers are mentally and physically exhausted due to non-stop bio-bubble and some of our cricketers were thinking of returning home skipping the series but that is not possible. If the quarantine is again extended after December 21 then we will sit with them.

We have informed them that it is difficult for us to play without sufficient preparation,” Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan said, pointing out the postponement of the intra-squad two-day practice game, scheduled on December 22-23.

Other than Rangana Herath, eight other members that include both players and support staff are serving their isolation period after they were found to be in close contact with a Covid-19 positive person flying with them from Malaysia to New Zealand. The remaining players and staff had started their training for the first time on December 16 after having completed their quarantine period. However, they were later asked to pause the preparations.

It was also reported that the positive passenger on the plane was found to be infected by the Omicron variant. Thus this forced the government to take strict actions and ask Bangladesh to undergo MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine). The first Test match is staged to be played at the Bay Oval in Tauranga whereas the second Test will be played from January 9 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.