The results of the Covid-19 tests that the Bangladesh cricketers underwent in New Zealand yesterday are expected to arrive today and a clean chit would enable to Tigers to get preparations underway for the two-match Test series scheduled to begin from January 1.

Bangladesh will be allowed group training for the first time since landing on December 10 if they return negative tests.

However, one positive case can complicate matters further and would concern both boards, especially given the tight timeframe.

"We are feeling fine after our last Covid-19 test today [Sunday]. If the results come out negative, we will be allowed to practice from the day after tomorrow [Tuesday]. We all are excited about this and looking forward to it," left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam said yesterday.

The turbulence began after Bangladesh's spin-bowling coach Rangana Herath tested positive for Covid-19 in Christchurch after joining the team from Sri Lanka. It then came to light that New Zealand's first case of the Omicron variant was found on the same flight from Dubai to New Zealand that the Bangladesh team was traveling on, forcing the New Zealand Health Ministry to take strict measures.

In line with guidelines from the New Zealand Health Ministry, the visitors were asked to stay at the Managed Isolation Center for three further days of strict room quarantine despite originally being scheduled to move to a team hotel and start outdoor practice from December 17.

"We all are doing well. We have been divided into two groups and were given yellow bands. We are able to see each other twice a day while maintaining social distance and it feels good to see each other and talk for a while," Shoriful added.