Tim Seifert, New Zealand's first-choice ODI wicketkeeper and opener, has caught COVID-19 while playing in the Indian Premier League.
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 Australians at the tournament are quarantining.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has helped organise two charter flights for their IPL contingent as cases in the COVID-struck country continue to mount.
In a statement on Saturday morning, NZ 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."
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.
Test players Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson and two staff members are now heading to the Maldives as an intermediary stop on their way to the UK.
Australian Associated Press
