The staging of third Test between Australia and India at the iconic SCG is under dark clouds with the rise in Coronavirus cases in Sydney over the last week.
Apart from the fate of Sydney Test, there is also the safety concern for India opener Rohit Sharma, who is undergoing quarantine there after arriving in Australia ahead of the first Test.
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Speaking to ANI, a BCCI official confirmed that Rohit will continue to serve his quarantine in Sydney.
"He doesn't need to move from Sydney. He is safe and is in a bio-secure environment undergoing quarantine. While he is alone in his room, the Indian board as well as the team management is constantly in touch with him. If there was any emergency or if we felt that he needed to get out of Sydney, we would. But for now, he is completely safe there," the official pointed.
Rohit, who completed rehabilitation at the NCA following his hamstring injury during the IPL 2020, was declared clinically fit by the BCCI on December 13.
Provided he is declared fit by the team's medical staff, Sharma could feature in the third and fourth Test.
Asked about the endurance programme that Rohit was handed by the physio when he left for Australia, the official replied: "He is being monitored by the physios and he is doing his regular endurance work in his room. It is all about keeping fit and ready for action when it comes to hitting the ground running."
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has confirmed that the scheduled Sydney Test match between Australia and India remains on track despite a fresh COVID-19 outbreak.
The third Test is slated to be played from January 7 to 11 while Gabba will host the fourth Test from January 15 to 19.
There were reports that Cricket Australia was pondering over switching the third and fourth Test venues. But CA's interim CEO has clarified that nothing of that sort is happening as of now.
"The third Test is more than two-and-a-half weeks away, which provides us with time to assess the evolving public health situation on the northern beaches of Sydney. We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground," Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia's Interim CEO said in an official statement.
"Cricket Australia has developed a solid track record of delivery throughout this most challenging of summers and will continue to make appropriate and proportionate decisions in consultation with our biosecurity team, governments, State & Territory Associations, the Australian Cricketers'' Association, our partners and venues," he added.
(With ANI inputs)
