Extended 3-day room quarantine for Tigers

Bangladesh players are required to undergo a further three-day room quarantine in Christchurch as per orders from the Ministry of Health New Zealand.  

Except for the Bangladesh spin bowling coach Rangana Herath, who had tested positive for Covid-19, and the players and staff members who had been in close contact with a Covid-infected patient on their flight to New Zealand from Bangladesh, all the other members of the Bangladesh team had completed their mandatory seven-day isolation period on Thursday.  Had it not been for rain, the players would have also had their first outdoor practice session on their two-Test tour of New Zealand. But unfortunately, the cricketers will now have to abide by the health protocols set by the country's Health Ministry and stay in room quarantine for three more days. "Yes, today we were given instructions that we would have to undergo room quarantine for three more days. We will have to stay inside our rooms and cannot do gym sessions or participate in practise sessions," told a member of the Bangladesh national team from Christchurch to the media officials on Friday. The players were supposed to be moved to the team hotel today. However, as per the new instructions, the cricketers are having to stay put at the Managed Isolation facility in Christchurch where they had been since arriving in the country on December 10.  The players had initially undergone a three-day room quarantine period before being able to do gym sessions in groups for the rest of their mandatory isolation period. Meanwhile, Covid-positive Herath and other members who had come in close contact with a Covid-infected person had been in isolation seperately. 

Herath tests positive

Bangladesh's spin bowling coach Rangana Herath, currently on tour in New Zealand with the Test squad, has tested Covid-19 positive on Wednesday, but is believed to have only "mild symptoms." Eight other Bangladesh players have been sent into isolation after another person on their Christchurch-bound aircraft also tested positive. The rest of the squad went into training Lincoln on Thursday, but were are all asked to mandatorily complete a three-day room quarantine once again by the New Zealand health authorities because of their proximity to Herath on the flight. It's the second time they will have to quarantine since arriving on December 10. The entire contingent was supposed to be in managed isolation, which included gym sessions from December 14. But that isn't the case anymore. There was reportedly concern within the Bangladesh team but they were feeling better after all but Herath tested negative again on Thursday. But the latest directive from the local health authority means that the visitors' preparation will be delayed by another three days. Bangladesh are scheduled to play two practice matches before the first Test in Tauranga that starts on January 1.