Gary Stead Provides An Update On Stranded Tim Seifert After Testing Positive For COVID-19 In India

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has been in touch with Tim Seifert, who was unfortunate to test positive for COVID-19 during his stay in India with the Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2021. IPL 2021 turned on its head last week as a handful of positive cases emerged before BCCI postponed the tournament indefinitely to prevent more damage. However, Gary Stead revealed that Tim Seifert is in a much better space now.

Tim Seifert, part of Kolkata Knight Riders after joining the franchise last year, was the fourth player to test positive from the team. Along with the keeper-batsman, Prasidh Krishna also failed the COVID-19 test, with Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier being the first whose reports came out positive. Seifert could not get on either of the two charter flights with other Kiwi cricketers due to testing positive.

Gary Stead sympathized with Tim Seifert, who is in a difficult situation in India and remains isolated. Stead also remarked it was depressing to learn the news of the keeper-batsman getting the disease; however, he conceded he is in a better place now and there is a plan around him.

“He’s in that difficult situation of being over there and sort of isolated a little bit as well. Obviously it was distressing early on to get that news but I think he’s in a much better space now that there is a plan around him,” Gary Stead said as quoted by Stuff.co.nz.

Gary Stead respects Trent Boult’s decision to likely miss the two Tests against England:

Ace left-arm seamer Trent Boult has returned home, while all others slated to be in England for two Tests have relocated to the Maldives to avoid a mandatory 14-day isolation in New Zealand. Stead did not underline the exact reason why Boult returned home; however, he understands what players have been through in India, which has been going through a tough time. Thus, he respects his decision.

“I think everyone has got their reasons around it. India changed very, very quickly, I think over the space of two or three days, and there were options put in front of the guys and Boult felt for him and his mental health, the best thing he could do was get home for a while. We respect that decision like we respect the other guys’ decision to go elsewhere,” the 49-year old added.

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