Mansingh expects tighter COVID restrictions in Bangladesh

November 25, 2020
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Dr Akshai Mansingh
Dr Akshai Mansingh
West Indies cricketers and coaching staff in a huddle during a recent training session  in News Zealand.
West Indies cricketers and coaching staff in a huddle during a recent training session in News Zealand.
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If the proposed West Indies tour of Bangladesh were to be finalised for next year, West Indies Cricket Board's Chief Medical Officer Dr Akshai Mansingh anticipates that COVID-19 protocols will be tighter than those being enjoyed currently in New Zealand.

Mansingh's comments come after Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt suggested that the regional side could tour the South Asian country in the new year. The team is currently in New Zealand for their second tour of the year, which will consist of three T20 matches and two Test matches. The first T20 game will bowl off on Friday.

Mansingh says that the organisation of the tour in a bubble environment will be a more difficult enterprise, given that the tour could take place across two cities, with playing and training venues not being close to the hotels.

However, he said that that will be the purpose of this week's trip to Bangladesh to determine if the country can host the tour safely.

"It's a much more difficult bubble. Nonetheless, [it's] nothing that we haven't experienced in the past. And the trip really has to do with going and making sure that everything is in place and can work. What we want is to send our strongest team," Mansingh told STAR Sports. "And to do that, we need to make sure that everybody has confidence in the system."

Some West Indian players were found to be in breach of quarantine rules in New Zealand and were prevented from training for the last three days of their mandatory isolation. While saying that the incident was minor and didn't impact the tour, he said that the protocols will be much tighter and clearly communicated for Bangladesh, pending approval.

"We have to make sure that the protocols are absolutely clear-cut and that the facilities to ensure the mental well-being and the recreation of the players off the field are there and are [accessible] to the players and the squad," Mansingh said.

The proposed tour, which is part of the Future Tour's programme of the International Cricket Council (ICC) would consist of three Tests, three One-Day Internationals and three T20 matches.

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