IPL 2021: 4 members of New Zealand national team fly out of Delhi to Maldives

Four members of the New Zealand national team including Kane Williamson who were a part of the postponed Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, were initially reported to be in a mini bio-secure bubble in New Delhi. However, it has emerged that the four New Zealanders are actually in the Maldives and not in India. This information is according to a report in Cricbuzz, with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) not aware of this.

NZC was under the impression that Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner and physio Tommy Simsek were part of a secure bio-bubble in Delhi. The players were expected to spend their time in the capital, before being granted further instructions by the cricketing board, with regard to flying down to the UK for the final of the maiden edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) against India. The WTC final is set to be preceded by a two-match Test series against hosts England.

‘New Zealanders felt insecure’

However, the four players have flown down to Maldives in an interesting development. They are accompanied by a few Australians, who were a part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad for IPL 2021.

“We’ve been informed that the four New Zealanders felt insecure in the Delhi bubble and they were not sure when they can leave for UK. They did not want to stay here too long and left with the Australia-bound Chennai Super Kings players, who were flying to Maldives,” said a franchise official as quoted by Cricbuzz.

NCZ had released a plan outlining their process for the exit of players who were a part of IPL 2021.

“New Zealand’s IPL-based Test contingent will depart from India for the United Kingdom on May 11th — the earliest date an exemption for their arrival in England could be obtained. Williamson, Jamieson, Santner, as well as physio Tommy Simsek, will remain in a secure mini-bubble in New Delhi before departing for the UK,” it read.

It will be quite interesting to see how the NZC, as well as Cricket Australia (CA), react to this development. While this move by the players is certainly surprising, it also reflects a reasonable level of panic in the minds of the cricketers.