India’s ongoing Test series against Australia has been marred by a controversy as the reports of visiting team expressing unwillingness to travel to Brisbane for the fourth Test came forward last week.

The reluctance came after it was reported that due to strict health protocol rules in the state of Queensland, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side needs to undergo another round of hard quarantine with players not even allowed to venture out of their rooms.

See Also: ‘Tension boiling’, says Tim Paine after India’s reported reluctance to travel to Brisbane

However, a report published in TOI suggests that the BCCI wants the rules relaxed for Brisbane Test or to shift the final game to Sydney and maybe even end the series after just three Tests.

Indian cricketers had served rigorous 14-day quarantine after arriving in Australia in November. In fact, Rohit Sharma, who landed in Australia late last month, had also undergone two weeks of isolation.  

It was Cricket Australia’s own commitment that after the initial 14-day quarantine, the touring team would not be subjected to any such isolation again.

"Now, if it's between the mayors of Queensland or the monarchs, it's not India's headache. If Brisbane has rules that require the team to undergo any sort of quarantine once again, then the fourth Test has to either be held in Sydney or curtail this into a three-Test series and let the Indian team leave," sources in the BCCI told TOI.

Basically, the BCCI wants its Australian counterpart to give the Indian team same privileges that are being extended to anyone else in the country.

"And fans are allowed? Locals are fine to do whatever they like? Then why doesn't the team stay back in Sydney, where no such rules are applicable," those tracking developments quoted as saying by TOI.

Facing the financial crisis due to global COVID-19 pandemic, India’s tour has come as a big healer for CA.

"An India vs Australia series is a seller - but that shouldn't come at the cost of making the Indians feel like they're being done a favour. The comment from Queensland's minister (for health and ambulance services) Ross Bates was unwarranted and rude," sources added.

"If the Indians don't want to play by the rules, don't come," Bates had told reporters.

Her remarks were endorsed by the state's sports minister Tim Mander, who said: "If the Indian team wants to spit the dummy and disregard quarantine guidelines in Brisbane for the fourth Test, then they shouldn't come."

Apparently, the comments haven’t gone down well with India team, who has followed each guideline rigorously.

The third Test will be played at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground from January 7, while the Gabba is scheduled to host the fourth test from January 15.