New Zealand allrounder Mitchell Santner tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, and did not fly out to Ireland with the rest of the squad on Sunday evening from Auckland. His departure will be delayed until next week, once he recovers and tests negative.
The tour starts with the first ODI on July 10, and Santner will aim to join the squad before taking over as captain for the T20Is against Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands.
“Covid has been a challenge, and will continue to be in the future, and we will adapt accordingly. Contingencies are always in place,” Shane Jurgensen, New Zealand’s head coach for the Ireland tour, said. “He’s feeling okay, and the priority will be getting him into camp with us hopefully later in the week to assess where he’s at and when he may be ready to play.
“We’ve got 11 games across the three tours and another tour to follow against the West Indies in August, which Mitch will be involved with, so we certainly won’t be looking to rush him.”
The three ODIs will be played in Malahide on July 10, 12 and 15, followed by the T20Is in Belfast on July 18, 20 and 22. The squads will then fly out to Scotland for two T20Is and an ODI at the end of the month before two more T20Is in the Netherlands in the first week of August.
