New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson along with Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner and physio Tommy Simsek flew to the Maldives on Friday (7th May). 

Earlier it was reported that the New Zealand quartet of Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner and physio Tommy Simsek would depart from India to the UK on May 11 for the two-match Test series against England and will stay in the mini bio-secure bubble in Delhi until their departure. 

However, later it was learned that the Kiwi contingent was not feeling comfortable staying in COVID-19 hotspot Delhi.

Talking about the same, an official from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) said that New Zealand players were not feeling safe in Delhi amid the second wave of COVID-19 which was the reason they decided to fly to the Maldives. 

NZC confirms that Kane Williamson and other NZ players in mini bubble before flying to England

“Kane and few others from New Zealand were not feeling safe in Delhi because of the COVID situation there. That is why they decided to fly to the Maldives,” SRH official told PTI. 

Apart from these four, ace Kiwi pacer Trent Boult has flown back to New Zealand and is likely to miss the two-match Test series against England but will be available for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in Southampton scheduled to be held from June 18-22.

The quartet of Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner and physio Tommy Simsek will now travel from the Maldives to the UK while the rest of the Test squad based in New Zealand will depart for England on May 16 and 17.

The first Test of the two-match series between England and New Zealand will begin at Lord’s on June 2.

(PTI inputs)