The Bangladesh cricket team went on a foreign tour for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic period. The Tigers arrived in New Zealand on last Wednesday (February 24) to play three ODIs and a solitary T20.
New Zealand as a country has handled the current corona situation very well. So in their quest to maintain the pandemic situation, they are not giving exemption to the quarantine rules. That is why the fleet of about 35 people from Bangladesh team have to abide by the rules. However, it is also for cricketers own benefit and as almost a week passed of Tigers arrival in New Zealand, the quarantine rules are getting more relaxed and from team players to coaching staff, BCB officials, everyone can now roam around outside the hotel for a certain period of time.
In that continuity, the players, coaching staff and other members of the Bangladesh team have been allowed to walk outside for more than an hour and a half from Tuesday. In the last four days the duration was only for 40 minutes. From Tuesday it has been increased to 100 minutes. This means that even if they are in room quarantine, everyone can walk outside for 100 minutes every day.
There is more good news for them. Gym facilities will be available from Wednesday (today) and light exercises can be done in a groups of 5 people from Thursday. Debashish Chowdhury, the chief doctor of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), who is currently with the team, told all these through a phone conversation on Tuesday.
Samples of the third corona test have been collected from everyone on Tuesday. The results of these tests are not officially announced. However, if everyone is tested negative, then more relaxation of the quarantine rules will occur. All in all, if everything goes smoothly, the Bangladesh team will be able to start full-fledged training session from March 10
The cricketers spent first two days in New Zealand in hotel room captivity. From the third day onwards, they had the opportunity to walk for 20 minutes twice a day for a total of 40 minutes. From Tuesday, it has been increased to 50 minutes to 100 minutes of walking. This opportunity to walk outside in the midst of being locked in a room for a long time is especially helpful in keeping the mental health of the cricketers in order.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal said that his quarantine period is going really good. He is spending his time by sleeping and watching web series. Tamim said, ‘Luckily, we have cycle [for gym] inside the room and we have been given a number of gym equipment like bands by the BCB and we can do free-hand exercise and do cycling inside the room. Apart from that, I am actually passing time by watching Netflix, Amazon Prime series’ and by sleeping as we are not allowed to exit our rooms and meet others. Self-isolation is still going on. But honestly, I thought it would be a lot harder. '