South African born Otago Volt, Dean Foxcroft has been denied entry into New Zealand. Otago Cricket has been informed twice in the last month, that Immigration NZ (IMZ) will not approve an exception to its border restrictions.    

As a result, Foxcroft will not be able to represent Otago in the upcoming 2021/22 domestic season.

Otago Cricket have been working through numerous application processes with Immigration New Zealand, since the Covid-19 led lockdown hit in March 2020, meaning Foxcroft will miss a second consecutive season with Otago.

Otago Cricket Chief Executive Mike Coggan reflected on this news. 

“We are devastated for Dean. He has made a formal commitment with New Zealand Cricket to make himself available, through the qualifying process, to play for the BLACKCAPS but due to the current Government restrictions in place he is unable to get back into the country to meet these commitments.”

“He is absolutely distraught, and we are too. Over the past 18 months we have done everything possible to get him back to Otago and at every turn our applications have been denied. He sees himself as a New Zealander who aspires to play for New Zealand one day. We will not give up on supporting Dean to realise his goals”. 

Dean’s exclusion from the Otago Volts squad means a final two contracts will be named on the 7^th of July to complete the squad of sixteen (16).

*ENDS*

Article added: Thursday 01 July 2021