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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a lot of important series in cricket in recent times. The final match of India's tour of England was postponed few months back with Pakistan-West Indies ODI series also suffering the same fate recently. As it turns out, the upcoming 2-match Test series between New Zealand and Bangladesh could also be under risk of postponement now.
After Bangladesh's spin bowling coach Rangana Herath tested positive for the coronavirus, the entire visiting contingent was sent to a 3-day mandatory quarantine. And just when everyone thought that it was the end of problems for them, it has now been revealed that one of the passengers (on the flight where Bangladesh travelled to New Zealand) has been found infected with Omicron variant, which has raised a lot of concerns among the health authorities in the country.
Test series under clouds of doubt
This is why all the players and staff members of the Tigers have been asked to stay under MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) until December 21. While Bangladesh team have followed all the restrictions and guidelines until now, the news coming out from the camp is that they are considering the option of opting out of the series in case they are put under further quarantine.
“Our cricketers are mentally and physically exhausted due to non-stop bio-bubble and some of our cricketers were thinking of returning home skipping the series but that is not possible. If the quarantine is again extended after December 21 then we will sit with them. We have informed them that it is difficult for us to play without sufficient preparation,” Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan told reporters on Saturday.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play 2 practice games
It must be noted that as per the original schedule, the visiting side was slated to play two practice games before the 1st Test starting from January 1 onwards. A 2-day intra-squad match was planned on Dec 22-23 before another 2-day game between Bangladesh and New Zealand A on Dec 28-29.
With so much uncertainty around the Omicron variant presently, it will be intriguing to see if the Test series goes on as planned or gets postponed to a later date.