West Indies players sanctioned for breaching isolation rules
The West Indies cricket squad has been stripped of the right to train while in managed isolation after players were found to have breached rules around their 14-day quarantine.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said CCTV footage from the team’s Christchurch hotel showed players mingling in hallways and sharing food in violation of managed isolation regulations. The ministry said all incidents occurred within the hotel and there is no danger to the general public.
The West Indies squad, which has completed 12 of its scheduled 14 days of isolation under COVID-19 regulations, will never be in a position to train again until its full managed isolation period has been completed. The isolation period could possibly be extended if any further concerns arise, the ministry said.
West Indies Cricket leader Johnny Grave told New Zealand media it really is “hugely disappointing that players that knew the protocol completely broke that.”
“Here, because of the fact that the brand new Zealand Government did such a good job with COVID, the carrot was for players to go through a normal tour,” he said. “I’m disappointed that they might let themselves down and the team down and potentially put the tour at risk and the brand new Zealand public at risk.”
Grave said a study has been launched and all players will be interviewed.
Grave said he sympathised with players, dealing with a hard environment while in quarantine. However the squad have been warned of serious ramifications if quarantine “facilities” were breached.
“We certainly made it clear that if any player breached a quarantine facility ... that might be probably taken beyond our hands ... that could have resulted in a new player being sent home immediately,” he said.
There is absolutely no suggestion any player left the quarantine facility, only that some may have socialized inside facility which rules do not allow.
Players were tested Wednesday for the 3rd time since their arrival in New Zealand. If the tests are negative, the team is defined to leave isolation on Friday and happen to be Queenstown for just two warm-up matches against New Zealand A.
The West Indies squad required a government exemption to enter New Zealand because of their upcoming group of three Twenty20 internationals, starting on Nov. 27, and two tests beginning on Dec. 3. New Zealand’s borders are generally only available to returning residents and citizens.
“Much like other sports teams that have come to New Zealand, the West Indies cricket team received certain exemptions from the managed isolation rules which connect with everybody else,” Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield said. “This included to be able to maintain larger bubbles and train in preparation for his or her international games.
“It is a privilege to come here but in return they must adhere to the guidelines. Keeping COVID-19 out of our communities and keeping our staff safe depends upon it. They didn’t do this, despite agreeing to abide by the parameters of the exemption.”
New Zealand Cricket said it supported the ministry’s actions.
“NZ Cricket will continue dealing with the West Indies team and management and relevant government agencies to make sure there is absolutely no repeat of these violations,” a spokesperson said.
West Indies players had to isolate within their own rooms for three days on arrival in New Zealand and had no connection with anyone. For another four days, players and staff were split into groups of no more than 15 to gain access to training facilities and gym and socialize. For the next week, the touring party was split into bubbles of 20 without interaction allowed with other groups.
“We've been told that the incidents involved included some players compromising the bubble integrity by mixing between two separate West Indies bubbles into which the touring party had been split, by sharing food and socializing in hallways,” Cricket West Indies said in a statement. “There is absolutely no suggestion that any members of the touring party left the facility, or that any unauthorized folks accessed it.”
The West Indies squad may be the first to endure two international tours during the COVID-19 pandemic. These were mixed up in first tour carrying out a global sports lockdown when they quarantined in Britain ahead of a series against England played in a so-called bio-secure bubble in June and July.
A lot of the players returned to the Caribbean for a domestic Twenty20 league prior to the national squad regrouped to go to New Zealand.
