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New Zealand players might travel with Indian players for ICC Test Championship final

The New Zealand cricketers who are part of the Test squad for the ICC World Test Championship final against India might travel to UK with the Indian players afer the conclusion of the IPL. The Test Championship final is slated to be played between India and New Zealand at Southampton from 18th June. 

The Kiwi players who are part of the Test squad has to travel with the Indian players as they can’t come back home and then depart for England due to th strict quarantine rules in place. It was mentioned by New Zealand cricket team’s union chief. 

Among the 10 New Zealand players plying their trade in the IPL, four among them are part of the Test squad which includes the likes of Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner. 

The Black Caps have named a 20 member Test squad for the two-match Test series against England starting from June 2 just ahead of the Test Championship final. The final squad for the ICC Test Championship final will be trimmed to 15. 

…they can’t very well come home, do the two weeks isolation and then go to England, so they’re going to have to be there (India) until the round-robin finishes, or the final series,” NZ Cricket Players Association chief executive Heath Mills said when he was asked whether the New Zealand players can go back and return in time.

“Then we’ve got other players who are coming home – logistically there’s not a lot of flights. It’s not easy to sort out the logistics. We’re working closely with NZ Cricket and they’re in touch with the BCCI and the ICC,” Mills further added. 

Mills further explained the fact that the New Zealand Cricket Board has been in close contact with the players part of the IPL. They are also in regular talks with the BCCI, ICC and the England and the Wales Cricket Board. Tension has crept in after there was a huge surge in COVID-19 cases in India. Despite being anxious, Mills stated that none of the New Zealand players have expressed their desire to leave for home. 

“There’s no doubt they’re certainly anxious about what is happening in India and what they’re witnessing,” Mills said.

“Whilst they’re anxious, they’re ok. No one has indicated yet that they want to go home.”

At a time when Adam Zampa called the IPL bio- bubble in India as the most vulnerable he has been part of, Mills said that the players are well looked after by their IPL franchises and they feel safe in their respective bio-bubbles. 

“There’s four teams in a hotel and the hotel is locked down. The challenge is when they transfer from city to city, then they need to put on the PPE gear and that’s when they’re probably most at risk.

“The players are in the safest place in India, in the team bubbles, which is the most important thing from my perspective.”

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