Embarrassment!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/123363394/covid19-west-indies-cricket-boss-frustrated-by-isolation-breach

New Zealand’s Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today there was more than one breach of that country’s COVID-19 protocols by some members of the West Indies touring team, at the Chateau on the Park Hotel in Riccarton, Christchurch.

Speaking on the television news programme Checkpoint, Dr Bloomfield said authorities took action against the West Indies team after some members from two separate bubbles had been caught by staff mingling outside their rooms and sharing food.

But he added staff at the facility had seen some of the players doing similarly previous to Day 11 of the quarantine period and had spoken to them before they were actually reported after repeating their breach. He said the breach of the protocols had been captured on closed-circuit television. Surveillance footage also revealed some of the players had left their rooms outside of allocated time slots.

“It is a privilege to come here but, in return, they have to stick to the rules. Keeping Covid-19 out of our communities and keeping our staff safe depends on it. They did not do that, despite agreeing to abide by the parameters of the exemption,” Dr Bloomfield said.

He also indicated that New Zealand authorities had spoken to Cricket West Indies (CWI) and informed them that they expected the regional governing body to take the appropriate disciplinary action against the offending players.

The team members are isolating in two bubbles of 20 ahead of three Twenty20s and two test matches against the Black Caps. The opening T20 is in Auckland on November 27. A ministry official said that all breaches occurred within the hotel facility and that there had been no risk to the general public, However, as a result of the incident the West Indies have had their training privileges denied and will be unable to practise over the next two days.

Pressed by the television presenteras to whether he had the authority to send home the West Indies team, Dr Bloomfield said that was not within his purview. However, in response to a question he said the punishment for such a breach of New Zealand’s COVID-19 protocols was six months imprisonment or a fine of $4 000. He added, though, that the proportionate action had already been taken by authorities. Dr Bloomfield revealed that the players were tested for COVID-19 once more today.

Meanwhile, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said today he was “extremely disappointed” with the breach and that it was a “huge blow” to the team’s training and preparation for the upcoming tour.

“We’re disappointed and surprised that they would’ve let themselves down and put the tour at risk.”

Grave believed the breach was between the team’s two bubbles and involved about five players. He did not think any team management were involved. He said the bubbles were being “strictly managed” and players were not allowed to socialise or train together at a high-performance facility at Lincoln University.

Losing the exemption to train at the New Zealand Cricket high performance facility for four days would affect their build-up for the Black Caps matches, but Grave said it was an appropriate sanction.

“It’s a blow to our preparation plans, especially for those players that didn’t take part in the Caribbean Premier League (in August-September) and therefore haven’t played any competitive cricket at professional level since the England tour ended at the end of July.

“It’s a really significant blow to our preparation and I know the head coach Phil Simmons is particularly disappointed that a few members of our touring party have really let themselves down.”

There was no evidence any members had left the facility besides when they were allowed to train, Grave said, and no unauthorised people are believed to have entered the quarantine facility.

The West Indies players are experienced at dealing with strict quarantine rules, having been involved in the first cricket tour post Covid-19 when they travelled to England in June-July.

They had also been in the bio-secure Caribbean Premier League T20 bubble in Trinidad and Tobago.

Grave said a formal letter had been sent to all members of the touring party and an internal investigation was under way.

The team underwent their day 12 testing on Wednesday and results are expected on Thursday.

If all members test negative they will leave managed isolation on Friday and head to Queenstown for two three-day tour games against New Zealand A, beginning the following Friday.

On Friday, late-arriving West Indies players who competed in the Indian Premier League and the Black Caps’ IPL contingent will go into the Chateau on the Park in separate bubbles.

The tour schedule is not expected to be affected by the breach.

A New Zealand Cricket spokesperson said the organisation was made aware of the West Indies team breaching protocols on Tuesday and supported the government’s position.
(WG/stuff.co.nz)