After being confined to one room of a five star hotel in Christchurch for the first three days, Bangladesh cricket team players had the opportunity to walk in the open air for 30 minutes for the next four consecutive days. After completing three days of room quarantine, Bangladesh team members were allowed to walk in groups for 40 minutes while after seven days of quarantine, the visitors were allowed to use the gym and practice facilities in groups of seven.
This is how the cricketers of Bangladesh have passed all the steps of quarantine. Covid-19 test has been done once before each step. In the last Covid-19 test on Tuesday, all the results of the team players and staff came negative. Therefore from Wednesday, there are no more Covid protocol restrictions for them.
According to New Zealand’s rules, travellers are allowed to roam freely after the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Cricketers will now be able to move freely without the facade of the biological protection zone.
Bangladesh practiced for the last time under the quarantine protocol on Tuesday. On this day, every team members breathed a sigh of relief. Young pacer Hasan Mahmud said, ‘I feel very good. Quarantine is over, today is the last day of quarantine, and today is our last practice session under quarantine protocol. '
Shariful Islam, another young fast bowler awaiting his debut, said he enjoyed the full day’s practice session, he said, "The first seven days of quarantine were not good. I felt a little better after getting the opportunity to practice for two hours in the next seven days. Now we are completely free and can practice all day without any restrictions.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Vettori is set to join the Bangladesh squad in Queenstown and resume his duties as the team's spin consultant. Vettori, who has 40 days remaining on his 100-day contract, was unable to join the team during their recent home series against the West Indies owing to the COVID-19 travel restrictions.
“Vettori will join the side in Queenstown and he will help the team prepare for the upcoming series,” said BCB media and communications committee chairman Jalal Younus. The BCB however will not renew the contract with Vettori after the series. They have already been in search for a new spin coach.
After the end of quarantine, Bangladesh team will leave Christchurch on Wednesday and go to Queenstown. The practice session of the team will continue their ahead of the ODI series. Bangladesh will play the first ODI against the hosts on March 20 in Dunedin. Tigers will have to come to Christchurch again on March 23 for the second ODI. The last ODI will be on March 26 in Wellington.
After the first T20 match in Hamilton on March 28, the second match will be played in Napier on March 30. The last match of the T20 series will be played in Auckland on April 1.