New Zealand cricketers in IPL reach Auckland via Tokyo in charter flights

BlackCaps cricketers and coaches participating in IPL 2021 reach Auckland airport in a private flight on Saturday. Image Courtesy: Ricky Wilson/Stuff

Xtra Time Web Desk: The IPL bound New Zealand cricketers reached Auckland safely on Saturday night after the cash rick league was suspended due to multiple cases of COVID-19 in few teams. The cricketers, support staff and commentators were in two separate charter flights which landed in Auckland via Tokyo from Delhi. The Bombardier Global Express private jet had players like Trent Boult, Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham, Adam Milne and Scott Kuggeleijn along with coaches and former players James Pamment and Shane Bond, and Royal Challengers Bangalore director of cricketing operations Mike Hesson. Travelling on the Vistajet private flight were KKR cricketer Lockie Ferguson, Coaches Brendon McCullum and Kyle Mills along with commentators Simon Doull and Scott Styris. Chennai Super Kings Head Coach Stephen Fleming too was on the same flight with umpire Chris Gaffaney.

The first flight reached around 8pm and the players were immediately cordoned off to the international terminal. They went into managed isolation upon arrival and a second flight was expected to leave India on Saturday night.

Black Caps batsman Tim Seifert, who tested positive for Covid-19, is remaining in India awaiting transfer to a private hospital in Chennai, the same facility in which former Australia player Michael Hussey is being treated after testing positive earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s UK-bound Test contingent, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and physio Tommy Simsek, have transferred to the Maldives, rather than staying in New Delhi as originally planned, ahead of travelling to England, NZ Cricket said in a statement.

The decision to transfer the players to the island nation came in light of advice that their entry into the UK, initially thought to be about May 11, was likely to be delayed a further week.

All the players, supports staffs and commentators were spotted wearing mask.