There is a lot of buzz around the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand, scheduled to get underway on June 18 in a bio-secure environment at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.
“The event has now been granted an exemption by the UK government as outlined in The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) Regulations 2021, released on 17 May 2021,” ICC said in a media release on Friday (May 29).
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The governing body also revealed that the Indian cricket team will arrive in UK on June 3 after serving 14 days of isolation in the homeland.
“As per the bio-safety protocols established for the event, in line with UK government and Public Health England requirements, the Indian Men’s team will arrive in the UK on 3 June 2021 via a charter flight and carrying evidence of a negative PCR Test. Prior to travelling, the party will have spent 14 days in a bio-secure environment in India during which regular testing will have taken place. Upon landing, they will proceed directly to the on-site hotel at the Hampshire Bowl where they will be tested again before commencing a period of managed isolation,” ICC’s official release said.
ICC further said that regular COVID-19 tests will be carried out during the quarantine period while players’ activity will be allowed in a gradually increasing manner after each round of negative testing, moving from exercise in isolation to small group and then larger squad activity.
Before the WTC final, New Zealand will play England in two Tests at Lord’s (June 2-6) and Edgbaston (June 10-14) and the Kane Williamson-led side is already in the UK.
ICC said the Kiwis will enter the bio-bubble for WTC final on June 15.
“The New Zealand team are already in the UK ahead of their bilateral series against England and the team will transition from the ECB bio-secure environment into the World Test Championship Final bubble on 15 June and will be subject to regular testing prior to and post arrival in Southampton.”
