IPL 2021: The New Zealand Men’s cricket team skipper Kane Williamson along with the other three members of New Zealand’s Test squad will leave for England on May 11 from India. The rest of the New Zealand players who participated in the currently called off IPL 2021 will go back to their home on Friday.
Before playing the World Test Championship final against Indian at Southampton from June 18, New Zealand will play a two-match test series against the host England. The test series between New Zealand and England will commence from June 2.
An official statement from the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), David White stated that “We’ve worked closely with the BCCI and the IPL franchises on the various departure strategies and we’re very appreciative of their support during what is, clearly, a very challenging time.”
The four NZ test squad members who will leave for England are skipper Kane Williamson, spinner Mitchell Santner, pacer Kyle Jamieson who will remain in a mini-bubble in New Delhi before leaving for the UK.
17 players from New Zealand participated in the presently suspended IPL 2021.
The official statement also stated, “Along with the balance of the New Zealand-bound IPL players, support staff, and commentators, Trent Boult is scheduled to depart New Delhi tomorrow on one of two charter flights, arriving in Auckland on Saturday before undergoing managed isolation.”
“Boult will leave MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) on May 22 and will spend a week at home with his family, training at Mt Maunganui before departing for the UK in early June,” stated further.
Chris Donaldson, team trainer of the New Zealand men’s cricket team who was a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders will also go back to his home for a brief period before joining the squad in England.
The players and the support staff returning to New Zealand would observe all regulatory COVID protocols, including pre-departure tests.
Earlier, IPL 2021 was suspended after the bio bubble of different teams was compromised and several players tested positive for COVID-19.
