Bangladesh Cricket team will complete the two-Test tour in New Zealand even if the series got delayed due to the extended quarantine of the cricketers, Said Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan.
Rangana Herath, the spin bowling coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team was found covid-19 positive, therefore the quarantine period of the team members of the Bangladesh cricket team was extended.
Nazmul said that many cricketers wanted to come back to Bangladesh due to the prolonged quarantine period but the BCB is positive about the completion of the tour,
“Many cricketers were thinking about returning home, calling off the series but there is no score for such things. If the quarantine is extended after December 21, then we will think about it”, Nazmul told the reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.
The BCB directors had an emergency meeting on Saturday noon at the BCB office and after the meeting, Nazmul told the reporters that there is no chance of bringing the team back,
“Even if the series is pushed by three-four days, still we can’t say no. We have told them that without proper training and preparation, we are not going to play”, said Nazmul.
The BCB president also said that at this point, the only way out is to wait till December 21,
‘On December 21 everyone will be tested again, if they come out covid negative then I think the players can come out and train. It is not possible to bring them back. Do you think the New Zealand government will allow anyone who has come in close contact with Omicron variant career to go to the airport and take a flight? Which Airline will bring them back? Let’s see till 21st, it’s only a matter of two more days”, Nazmul told the reporters on Saturday.
The BCB President said that the New Zealand government is very much sensitive as Bangladesh cricket team members came in close contact with a person carrying an omicron variant which raised the alert level,
“The New Zealand-bound passenger who was infected by Omicron variant was the first case of Omicron virus in their country. In one group there were 19 members of ours who were given blue band and the rest were given yellow band who were seated close to that person. Those who were in band blue, their quarantine ended three days before, they went to the gym and suddenly they found that they were shifted to yellow-band because Rangana Herath was found covid-19 positive”, said Nazmul.
“We have to understand that the New Zealand government is much stricter in terms of handling covid situation than any other country. The quarantine policy in New Zealand is also hard. They are not taking any chances as that was the first case of Omicron detection”, Nazmul added.
