India’s ongoing Test series against Australia has been marred by controversies in the last 24 hours as the news of some visiting players violating the COVID-19 protocols came forward. While both BCCI and CA are probing the matter, the Indian team management has dismissed reports of any possible bio-bubble breach from their players.
After this incident, a report published in Cricbuzz suggests that the Ajinkya Rahane-led Indian team are reluctant to travel to Brisbane for the fourth and final Test as they fear getting pushed back into another hard lockdown.
As per schedule, the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to be played in Brisbane from January 15-19.
"If you look at it, we were quarantining 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," a source in the Indian team told Cricbuzz.
He further opined, "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.
"We understand the complexity of what's happening currently. Cricket Australia and we have cooperated at every step with regards to following the protocols within the bubble. But we were expecting to be treated in the same vein as 'normal Australians' in terms of restrictions once we completed that initial quarantine in Sydney," the source added.
He also stated, "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. If you look at it, we are one of only two teams who have had zero issues while being on a tour during this pandemic. After all this time, what we don't want is to be sent into another hard bubble, which seems will be the case in Brisbane."
Team India will travel from Melbourne to Sydney on Monday (January 4) and train for only two days before the third Test at the SCG.
The tourists had won the Boxing Day Test by 8 wickets to level the series at 1-1.
