Felt like I was in jail, says Miraz

Mehidy Hasan, the Bangladesh offspinner, said being locked inside the hotel room during the first three days of quarantine was similar to being in jail, reports Cricbuzz.

The Bangladesh players and staff, ahead of the limited-overs series against New Zealand, are undergoing a 14-day quarantine at the Christchurch Chateau on the park Government Quarantine Center.

As per the Covid-19 guidelines, the Bangladesh contingent remained inside the rooms for the first three days of their quarantine while from the fourth day, they were allowed to walk for some time inside the quarantine center premises while maintaining distance.

"The first three days we were in the room. Then everyone got a chance to go out for half an hour. My head was spinning a little when I first went out yesterday. Then after 10-15 minutes it became normal," Mehidy said on Sunday.

"I felt I was in jail during the opening three days and it was frustrating.

"But when I came out and got adjusted to the weather, it felt a little better. When I returned to the room, I felt a little fresh. It doesn't feel good to be in a room all day. It's actually a little uncomfortable for us to spend three or four days in a room in the same way and so when we got the chance to go outside for thirty minutes, it felt good," he said.

The Bangladesh cricketers will be allowed to begin their practice sessions after seven days in quarantine, and will have to train in groups of five members each. They will be allowed to begin full-fledged practice after the 14-day quarantine. All the members of the Bangladesh team tested negative in the first test and will have to undergo two more tests in the first week. Following their 14-day quarantine, Bangladesh will have a five-day training camp in Queenstown.

"After six-seven days when we will start going to the gym and the field, we will feel better. It is difficult to spend time now. It would be good if we could get some gym facilities or could do some work in the room now. You can understand how we are passing the days. For the first time we spent five days at a hotel like this. It was tough at first, haven't seen anyone for the first three days.

"We have talked over the phone, video call, from room to room. It was boring at first, very difficult to spend time. Now four days have passed, hopefully the rest of three days will also pass. It (training) will start after two or three days and I hope it will be better at that point," said Mehidy.

Although they have had some experience of being in bio bubbles, having played the domestic tournaments and the series against West Indies at home, the experience in New Zealand is a new one for the Bangladesh cricketers.

"This kind of isolation is a completely different thing. We didn't pass time like this before," said Taskin Ahmed. "We have been allowed to walk while maintaining a two-metre distance for 30-40 minutes. It's refreshing as it felt like a hotel arrest." said Taskin. "They permitted walking after all of us tested negative in the first test. We still have a few tests left. After that, we can start our practice. Overall this is a completely new experience. Hopefully, it will end soon.

"We are passing time by talking to our family (by phone) and watching movies. The BCB has provided some stuff - bands and cycling - for our physical exercises. We have been instructed to do these in the room. So overall these are the ways we are spending our time," he said.

The series against New Zealand was supposed to start on March 13 but was later pushed to March 20 owing to Covid-related challenges. The three ODIs will be held on March 20, 23 and 26 in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington respectively while the three T20Is will take place on March 28, 30 and April 01 in Hamilton, Napier and Auckland respectively.