Cricket: West Indies CEO Responds After Players Breach New Zealand Quarantine Rules Ahead Of Black Caps Tour

West Indies Cricket CEO Johnny Grave was “bitterly disappointed” after several West Indies men’s team players broke managed isolation rules at a Christchurch facility.

Several members of the team touring New Zealand, believed to be four or five players, were caught on CCTV sharing food and socializing in the corridors of the Chateau on the Park hotel.

While there is no risk to the public, as no member of the West Indies tour group left the isolation facility, the violation prompted the Health Ministry to revoke the exemption for the equipment to train while in isolation.

“The West Indies cricket team received certain exemptions from the managed isolation rules that apply to everyone else. This included being able to be in bigger bubbles and training in preparation for their international games,” said the chief health officer. , Dr. Ashley Bloomfield.

“It is a privilege to come here, but in return they have to stick to the rules.”

The team is now unable to train in its final three days in isolation, which Grave acknowledged is a “big hit” but one that comes without discussion.

“We fully support the actions taken by the New Zealand Ministry of Health to the effect that during the remaining period of quarantine we will not be able to train,” Grave said.

West Indies Cricket is investigating the incident, and Grave believes the gap was due to a mixture of the team’s two training bubbles, as the team was able to train in isolation from the fourth day of its stay and moved in two bubbles. to a maximum of 20 people from day seven.

With the West Indies having successfully completed the first international “bubble” cricket tour when they visited England in July, Grave says players should have known how to deal with the demands of isolation.

“My disappointment is mainly the fact that our players are the most experienced in the world in handling quarantine measures.

“Here, due to the fact that the New Zealand government has done a good job with Covid, the carrot was for players to go on a normal tour.”

While he understood the difficult living conditions of the players, Grave still hoped for better.

“I’m disappointed that they disappoint themselves and the team. And potentially put the tour at risk and the New Zealand public at risk.

“I am understanding, but at the same time I am bitterly disappointed.”

The West Indies are still ready to leave administered isolation on Friday, assuming their final Covid tests come back negative tomorrow, and the team is scheduled to travel to Queenstown ahead of two preparation matches against New Zealand A.

Their first international match is scheduled to be a Twenty20 at Eden Park on November 27, with the team scheduled to face the Black Caps in two Twenty20s and three test matches.