Black Caps keeper gets COVID, Hussey on the improve

Tim Seifert, New Zealand's first-choice ODI wicketkeeper and opener, has caught COVID-19 while playing in the Indian Premier League.

The news comes as Australia's Mike Hussey reported he had returned a negative test to the virus. A second negative test this weekend would allow him to leave isolation and join the rest of the Australian contingent in the Maldives.

Seifert, who was a teammate of Pat Cummins at the Kolkata Knight Riders, tested positive to the virus as he was preparing to leave India on a specially-arranged charter flight.

The IPL was called off after several cases of COVID were reported, including at the Knight Riders where Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier tested positive.

Cummins was forced to isolate before heading on a plane to the Maldives, where he and the rest of the other Australian players, coaches, support staff and broadcasters at the tournament are quarantining.

They have been joined there by NZ Test players Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson and two staff members after they realised they would not be able to enter the next week after being in India.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India and the IPL franchises helped organise two charter flights for NZ's IPL contingent as cases in the COVID-struck country continue to mount.

In a statement on Saturday morning, the Black Caps said Seifert was experiencing "moderate symptoms" and would head into quarantine in Chennai.

The 26-year-old will not be allowed to travel and will instead be treated for the virus in India.

"He will be treated in the same private hospital in which former Australia player Michael Hussey has been staying since testing positive for COVID-19," the statement read.

"Once Seifert has undergone treatment and the statutory period of isolation and has tested negative for COVID-19, he will be transferred back to New Zealand where he will undergo the mandatory 14-day period of managed isolation."

Hussey, an assistant coach with the Chennai Super Kings, told News Corp: "I am extremely conscious of what is going on in India and feel very fortunate to be so well looked after by the franchise. I am resting in isolation at the moment and will hopefully get another negative test."

NZC chief executive David White said Seifert had previously tested negative seven times in 10 days.

"It's really unfortunate for Tim and we'll do everything for him that we can from this end," he said.

Seifert is not part of New Zealand's Test squad which is to take on England in two Tests next month before the World Test Championship final against India.

Meanwhile, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed repatriation flights out of India will resume on May 15, but the IPL contingent of Australians are still waiting to see when they might return home.

Current rules stipulate the 38 Australian cricketers, coaches, officials and commentators involved in the IPL (apart from Hussey who remains in Chennai) must spend a fortnight in the Maldives before flying home.

But further adjustments to the travel ban could clear them to fly out earlier.

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Nick Hockley made it clear on Wednesday his organisation will not seek special exemptions for the IPL group.

Any Australia-bound charter flight for the cricketers would need to be approved by the federal government.

While players are still looking to make their way home, the BCCI is yet to discuss rescheduling the remainder of the tournament with focus switching to the T20 World Cup, still currently scheduled to be hosted by India in October and November.

England venues Lord's, The Oval and Edgbaston have put themselves forward and offered to host the IPL's remaining 31 matches in September.

"We will explore all the options and see when it's feasible to play those matches and take a call at the right time," BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal said on Friday.

"Their offer has not been discussed yet. It's too early.

"Right now, our immediate plan is finalise the preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup in India later this year."

BCCI officials have acknowledged how difficult it could be to squeeze in the remaining IPL matches in an already crowded calendar.

The franchises believe it could be in September, before the Twenty20 World Cup. Royal Challengers Bangalore shared a team video on their Twitter feed on Friday in which chairman Anand Kripalu told the players the BCCI had "indicated" the tournament would resume in September.

"We trust the BCCI will obviously gather as much information as they can when looking at that window around September and obviously keep us all informed," Bangalore's Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson said in that video.

"We'll be part of the decision-making process as well, just to make sure that when it's rescheduled, the players and everybody involved are in a safe environment."

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