Pakistan, West Indies Set To Tour New Zealand As NZC Gets Clearance From Government

New Zealand Cricket has received Government approval to proceed with plans to host international series during the upcoming home season. Last month, New Zealand Cricket had confirmed that Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh and the West Indies would tour during their home season despite the coronavirus pandemic.

They are scheduled to host both West Indies and Pakistan for Tests and T20Is, Bangladesh for ODIs and T20Is and Australia for a short series as per the current FTP.

West Indies and Pakistan will be the first two teams to arrive in New Zealand. Both the teams are set to spend two weeks in quarantine in Christchurch but will be able to train in small groups from day four once all of their members return a negative COVID-19 test.

As per RNZ, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket David White has said they will foot the bill for the touring sides isolation periods. White has also confirmed the Black Caps planned trip to Australia for one day matches in January has been postponed due to the lengthy quarantine periods on either side of the Tasman.

“Security and health safety provisions will apply for the touring teams. While sports teams will be operating within a bubble, safety will be ensured through the provision of normal Infection Prevention Control mechanisms, like physical separation, normal hygiene practices and PPE. Training facilities will also be secure, safe and isolated,” New Zealand sports minister Grant Robertson said.

International cricket finally resumed in July this year after action around the world came to a standstill in March in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. England’s home Test series against West Indies was the series that marked the resumption of international cricket.

England then went on to host Pakistan, Ireland and Australia too. As far as New Zealand are concerned, they played their last game in March which was the first match of the three-match ODI series in Australia before it was called off.

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