The Bangladesh cricket team has been not allowed to take take part in any outdoor practice sessions until December 21 in New Zealand, where they are currently lodged to play the two-match Test series starting January 01 2022.
This decision was taken by the New Zealand Health Ministry in the wake of Bangladesh spin bowling coach Rangana Herath testing positive for COVID-19 on arrival in the Kiwi nation.
Along with him, eight other members of the squad which includes players and support staff have been placed in isolation after they were identified as close contacts with a person flying with them from Malaysia to New Zealand who also tested positive.
Bangladesh team manager Nafees Iqbal informed that the team was allowed to have one outdoor session on December 16, but post that they were once again asked to not hold any other practice session till further notice.
"We were permitted to practice yesterday (December 16) but today we were forced to cancel our practice as per orders from New Zealand Government. We have done three Covid tests so far and there is still one to go and we will get released if everyone gets negative results in the next test on the ninth day of the quarantine,” Nafees was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Talking about Herath’s present status, Nafees said, "Herath is fine now and he is recovering gradually. Our team is keeping in contact with him on a regular basis and hopefully, we will get him soon with us.”
The visiting team was supposed to play one two-day intra-squad game from December 22 and then another two day game with New Zealand A from December 28 before finally playing the first Test starting January 01 in Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.