BCCI and IPL governing council decided to indefinitely suspend the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) after players and some members of the support staff had tested positive for COVID-19 inside teams’ bio-bubbles.

After the suspension of the league, all the foreign players, support staff, coaches, and commentators were headed home as India was worst hit by the second wave of COVID-19.

The first group of New Zealand cricketers, coaches, and other members have arrived home by a private jet and have gone in isolation upon arrival while another lot is expected to land here on Sunday.

New Zealand cricketers Trent Boult, Finn Allen, Jimmy Neesham, Adam Milne and Scott Kuggeleijn, along with coaches James Pamment and Shane Bond with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) director of cricketing operations Mike Hesson arrived in New Zealand on Saturday.

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Another flight consisting of carrying Lockie Ferguson, Brendon McCullum, commentators Simon Doull and Scott Styris, umpire Chris Gaffaney, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming and Kyle Mills was expected to leave India on Saturday night.

The Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert who tested positive for COVID-19 will stay back in India and is waiting for his transfer to a private hospital in Chennai, the same facility in which Michael Hussey was being treated.

New Zealand’s UK-bound Test contingent consisting of Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and physio Tommy Simsek who were supposed to stay in New Delhi have been transferred to Maldives as their entry in UK was going to be delayed by a week as they stayed in India.

(With PTI inputs)