IPL players and staff are following all the strict Bio bubble rules but players can be at an intermediate risk to be in contact with the virus while playing and changing cities.
NZ Players Association Confirms New Zealand Set To Stay Back For IPL 2021 Amid Covid Rise
New Zealand cricketers would be staying back in India as of now for the 2021 Indian Premier League as confirmed by NZC Players Association chief executive Heath Mills. Important kiwi players like Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult are among others taking part in the T20 league. Mills admitted the players being at mild risk while changing cities and iterated the importance of taking the necessary precautionary measures while commuting.
“There’s no doubt they’re certainly anxious about what is happening in India and what they’re witnessing. But they feel well looked after by their IPL franchises and very safe in their bubbles,” Mills was quoted as saying in stuff.co.NZ
“There are four teams in a hotel and the hotel is locked down. The challenge is when they transfer from city to city, then they need to put on the PPE gear and that’s when they’re probably most at risk. Whilst they’re anxious, they’re ok. No one has indicated yet that they want to go home,” Mills stated.
New Zealand are set to take part in the Test series against England after the IPL concludes. NZC is constantly staying in touch with the BCCI and ICC for not facing any logistical issues which are likely to come into the picture.
“We’ve got players going to England for that test series; they can’t very well come home, do the two weeks isolation and then go to England. Then we’ve got other players who are coming home – logistically there’s not a lot of flights.
“It’s not easy to sort out the logistics. We’re working closely with NZ Cricket and they’re in touch with the BCCI and the ICC,” Mills added.
England will play a two-Test series against New Zealand this summer, with the ECB confirming fixtures at Lord’s and Edgbaston in June.
