The Windies team in New Zealand have been stripped of their rights to train further during their managed isolation period. This decision has been taken by the New Zealand Health Ministry as it found certain players indulging in breach of the managed isolation’s code of conduct as set by the ministry for all visiting teams.
The Ministry, on the evidence of CCTV footage from the Windies isolation facility in a Christchurch hotel, said that the team cannot train further till their managed isolation period ends on Thursday. The Caribbean team has had to go through 14 days of managed isolation on arrival in New Zealand, 12 days of which have passed.
Speaking on the issue Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, Director-General of Health, New Zealand said, “As with other sports teams that have come to New Zealand, the West Indies cricket team were given certain exemptions from the managed isolation rules which apply to everyone else,”.
“It is a privilege to come here but in return, they have to stick to the rules. Keeping covid-19 out of our communities and keeping our staff safe depends on it. They didn’t do that, despite agreeing to abide by the parameters of the exemption,” he added.
Players were due to be tested on Wednesday for the second time since their arrival in New Zealand. If things go as per plan, they would be released by Friday and move to Queenstown where they play New Zealand A in two practice games.
The tour however begins with three Twenty20 internationals, starting with the first one in Auckland on November 27, and later on, two tests beginning on Dec. 3, would be played in Hamilton and Wellington respectively.
Both New Zealand Cricket and Cricket West Indies have said that they are aware of the breaches and are in full support of the steps taken by the New Zealand Health Ministry.
“NZ Cricket will continue working with the West Indies team and management and relevant government agencies to ensure there is no repeat of these violations,” a spokesperson of NZC told.
While CWI in a press release reiterated that it is ‘in full support of the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s position.’
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