The New Zealand Government has temporarily suspended entry of the travelers from India to the country including its own citizens for two weeks from 11 April after the world’s second most populated country has been recording a high number of COVID-19 cases since the last week.
However, not only for India but New Zealand has also closed almost all the borders whether by air or sea for all the travelers to stop the COVID-19 from spreading in the country and now only “New Zealand citizens” or “New Zealand residents with valid travel conditions” can travel to the country.
India is battling a huge wave of Coronavirus infections despite having done record numbers of vaccinations in the country with almost 1.30 lakh cases recording every day, taking the COVID-19 caseload tally to 1,32,05,926, including 10,46,631 active cases, 1,19,90,859 recoveries, and 1,68,436 deaths.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took the decision after the country has recorded 23 new positive COVID-19 cases on Thursday at its border facilities of which 17 were from India.
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The latest travel ban may affect the cricketers of New Zealand participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) as the ban on arrival from India can force them to fly straight to England from India for the two-match Test series in May-June followed by the World Test Championship final.
Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, and Kyle Jamieson are among the 10 New Zealand players who are taking part in the ongoing IPL 2021 and are also set to play in the Test matches in England.
Richard Boock, New Zealand Cricket's public affairs manager was quoted as saying by “New Zealand Herald”: “We're monitoring the situation and are in contact with the IPL franchises to keep the lines of communication open because the tournament's due to go for some time.”
Boock further added, “We're prepared to discuss all contingencies if the situation warrants. For argument's sake, if it occurred with one of the Test players, it might make more sense for them to continue on to England (for the Test tour and world championship final).”
Noteworthy, New Zealand will play two Tests in England from 25 May to 14 June, and then take on India in the ICC World Test Championship final from 18 June.
(With PTI Inputs)
