India’s boycott threat of Brisbane Test LIVE Updates: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to wait for a few days before taking a final call on asking CA to shift the Test from Brisbane to Sydney. “It’s a fluid situation. Let’s wait for a few more days,” a BCCI official told PTI.
The development comes after multiple reports of Indian team threatening to boycott the fourth Test apropos COVID-19 protocols. But it is learnt that the fourth Test, starting at the Gabba from Janauary 15, is on as of now.
The border restrictions between New South Wales (venue of third Test in Sydney) and Queensland state government is a problem.
Queensland has closed its borders for people travelling from New South Wales due to the rising cases of COVD-19 in Sydney and surrounding areas.
However there will be an exception made for the Test match and players will be in a stricter bio-bubble, similar to the one in the IPL.
It could well happen that in order to play the Test match in Brisbane, the Indian team would have to be in a stricter bio-bubble from Sydney itself which would make for a hard quarantine (hotel-stadium-hotel) of around 15 days.
Earlier, the Queensland Cheif Health Officer Jeannette Young said that the state would not wat down its COVID-19 restrictions.
Queensland’s Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates echoed her colleague and said: “If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come”.
Today I was asked about reports the Indian Cricket Team wants quarantine restrictions eased just for them, ahead of the upcoming Gabba Test. My response 👇 #Cricket #IndiavsAustralia @ICC @CricketAus pic.twitter.com/MV7W0rIntM
— Ros Bates MP (@Ros_Bates_MP) January 3, 2021
This development comes in the wake of reports that 5 Indian players including Rohit Sharma have allegedly breached the Covid-19 bubble by dining in an indoor restaurant while Rishabh Pant reportedly hugged a member of the public. All 5 players are currently isolated from the rest of the team members as a precautionary measure.
“If you look at it, we were quarantined for 14 days in Dubai before landing in Sydney and doing so for another 14 days. That means we were in a hard bubble for nearly a month before coming out. What we don’t want now is to quarantine again at the end of the tour,” the source told Cricbuzz.
“We aren’t keen on going to Brisbane if it means being stuck in the hotel again, except for going to the ground. Instead we don’t mind being in some other city, playing both Test matches there to complete the series and returning home,” he added.
“All we’re saying is the boys have been in various states of lockdowns and bubbles for nearly six months now. And it’s not been easy for anyone.”
The Australian side has already been informed it will be kept in hotel rooms when not training or playing but the Indian team is yet to receive confirmation.
Batsman Matthew Wade said the Australian players had been told the protocols would be stricter in Brisbane but rejected the idea that there was now uncertainty over the schedule.
“There’s a lot of talk out there but for us as a group and me position personally, we’ll go Sydney and play the SCG and then we’ll go the Brisbane and play the Gabba,” he told reporters.
“Until the powers that be knock on the door and tell us that that’s going to change, we just roll onto the next game…”
India tour of Australia: Currently 5 Indian players including Rohit are isolated from the rest of team
5 Indian players including Rohit Sharma were on Saturday isolated from the rest of team after it was reported that they have allegedly breached the Covid-19 bubble by dining in an indoor restaurant while Rishabh Pant reportedly hugged a member of the public.
The five players were spotted by an Indian fan on Friday eating at the Secret Kitchen restaurant at Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne. The fan, paid their bill according to his now-viral posts on social media.
Singh wrote that Pant “hugged” him afterwards but he on Saturday tweeted: “Clarification – Pant never hugged me it was all said in excitement we maintained social distance all thru:) Apologies for miscommunication”.
A Cricket Australia statement said: “The BCCI and CA are investigating the matter and seeking to determine whether the outing constitutes a breach of biosecurity protocols.
“In the interim, on the advice of the Australian and Indian medical teams, the aforementioned players have been placed in isolation as a precaution. This will include separating the group of players from the broader Indian and Australian squads when travelling and at the training venue.”