The BCCI has confirmed India’s tour to Australia later this year, and the dates of the four-Test series have been confirmed, including the pink-ball Test. However, the details of the white-ball series are yet to be finalized, given the 14-day quarantine period that Indian team needs to undergo after landing in Australia.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley made it clear that the '14-day quarantine period is well defined' for the visiting Indian team keeping in mind the government regulations. With this compulsory ruling, CA is looking for a window to fit in the three-match T20I series which was earlier set to be played in October prior to the now postponed T20 World Cup.
"The protocols in place in Australia are necessary on account of the pandemic and it's perfectly understandable. There are no two ways about that. We are all dealing with the challenges that the pandemic poses to us and the commitment with other boards regarding dates is a challenge that will prove difficult to meet in these circumstances and accordingly the dates and length of the tours may need to be tweaked and that may mean amending the number of matches. A 14-day quarantine means it would get reduced from the total length of the tour," a BCCI official told IANS.
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"We were apprised that work is being done on the schedule before it is finalized. They are looking at fitting in the T20I series. India also play England after returning from Australia and that schedule is also being worked out while the pink-ball Test is fixed for Ahmedabad. We need to see how the other venues are placed and the distance from hotels to the grounds and things like that with an eye on the current scenario due to the pandemic,” the official added.
“Hopefully we will have further clarity before the end of the year as working in tandem with the government is a must,” further said.
The ODI series between Australia and India ends on Jan 17 and the official also explained the gap between the two white-ball series.
"The ODI series in Australia at present ends on January 17 and even if the teams get a two-day breather before starting the T20I series that would mean that the first T20I can only be played by January 20. Having games on alternate days at the same venue would mean the T20I series ending on January 24. That would see India heading home on January 26 at the earliest,” the official said.
"Even if we imagine that quarantine rules won't exist in India till then, you cannot have a Test series without at least a gap of 7-10 days as the boys need a minimum time to adapt back not just from white-ball to red, but also the change in timing. So, the England series moves into February," the BCCI official signed off.
(IANS inputs)
