Tough isolation period ends for Tigers

The initial week-long self-isolation for the Bangladesh team in New Zealand was anticipated to be a tough period which ended yesterday with no corona positive in the first two Corona tests. The Tigers will strictly be adhering to the 14-day mandatory quarantine, set by the home side for making sure the safety and health protocols of the visiting side as well as the home side. Upon their arrival in Christchurch, Bangladesh cricketers had to stay inside their hotel rooms in self-isolation wherein the first seven days were anticipated to be the most difficult phase for them.

But they are allowed to walk inside the hotel premises for 30 minutes in a day after completing their initial two days of self-isolation since landing in New Zealand on February 24. ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal among the players has been the only way to pass the isolated days with light exercise and watching movies at hotel rooms.

“I’m actually passing time by watching Netflix, Amazon Prime and sleeping as we are not allowed to exit our rooms and meet others,” said Tamim through a video message to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

“Self-isolation was difficult and it’s still going on. But personally, I thought it would have been harder. But somehow, we are managing and time is passing by. It already has been almost 4-5 days [in isolation] and not much more is left. Hope that the remainder of the days will also pass quickly,” Tamim added. While Tamim did not face much difficulty to spend his self-isolation time in his hotel room, it was a bit harder for Soumya Sarkar, who is eagerly waiting to return to normal life.

“Normally I spend time working out in my room and cycling. I also watch movies but now-a-days I’m watching a few Bangla dramas,” Soumya Sarkar said. “But how long can you exercise in a room alone?” Soumya asked. However, speedster Taskin Ahmed talked about the protocols the cricketers had to follow during the first seven days of their 14-day quarantine period.

“We’ve all our own single room from where no one is allowed to go to any other room at the moment. We’ve, however, the option to walk around for 30 minutes a day with two different time slots. We have to wear masks all the time whenever we’re outside the room and also maintain social distancing,” Taskin Ahmed said.

“The hotel staff knocks on the door and puts the food outside our room. Even while collecting food, we have to wear the mask. As we’ve already tested for corona negative for the second round of Covid-19 tests, we’re now able to use the laundry of the hotel. We’re not even allowed to give our clothes for laundry in the first few days of quarantine,” Taskin also said.

After the end of the seven-day isolation, the third Corona Test will be done on Tuesday after which if they tested negative in the round-3 of Covid-19 tests, they will be able to start going to the gym and practicing in small groups from Wednesday.