Heath Mills, New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief executive, hinted on Wednesday, that the Kiwi players, who are taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 might travel to the United Kingdom with Indian players for the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship final.
Due to the strict travelling and quarantine protocols, it will be difficult for the players to return home and then travel to the UK. Some of the star Kiwi players like captain Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson are among the 10 Black Caps, who are associated with different franchises.
India and New Zealand to play in World Test Championship final
Though all the 10 players will not be a part of NZ’s Test squad for the finals. The final, starting on June 18, will be played at Southampton. India and New Zealand will lock horns in the final clash of the inaugural edition of the World Tets Championship.
“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,” Heath Mills told stuff. co,nz.
“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,” he added.
Heath Mills also revealed that despite the anxiety created due to the bio-bubbles, no New Zealand player has indicated any willingness to withdraw from the IPL.
“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,” he added.
He indicated that the Black Caps feel they are taken care of by their franchises during their stay at hotels. Heath Mills further added that the cricketers are in the safest places which is of utmost importance from their perspective.
“There are 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,” he concluded.
