All the sporting activities have come to a grinding halt in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. It has been close to two months since any form of international cricket was last played.
No wonder, cricket boards have started to feel the financial crisis and are exploring options to safeguard the upcoming lucrative events.
One such marquee fixture in the future is India’s tour Down Under, where Virat Kohli and company will face the Tim Paine-led Australian side in four Tests.
While the series scheduled for December-January is currently under threat due to the deadly outbreak, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal on Friday (May 8) said that Team India’s tour of Australia will go ahead. He also downplayed the logistical issues expected to crop up because of the epidemic
In order to ensure that the high-profile tour, starting in October with the T20 World Cup, takes place as scheduled, Dhumal said quarantining of Indian players upon their arrival is a possibility.
"You can't be sure of the situation prevailing at that point of time. As of now the Australia tour is on because nobody has called off that tour and same for T20 World Cup," Dhumal told PTI. "The need for quarantine ahead of Australia tour only arises if the preceding T20 World Cup doesn't take place. If the World Cup happens, then players would have already completed their quarantine."
He also added that isolation is not feasible before every overseas assignment.
"If quarantine becomes a norm before every tour then it would be difficult to organise games."
Dhumal then went on to point out the bigger logistical challenge that awaits Australia – the T20 World Cup, slated to be held from October 18 to November 15.
"...would it be possible for Australia to have so many teams (16) coming in and quarantining for two weeks? Players will be out of cricket for so long and further two weeks of quarantine and then straightaway to go into T20 World Cup. Who would be interested? So there is no clarity.
"Once the situation improves and the lockdown ends, then we will see keeping the safety and health of our players in mind as that is paramount," the BCCI treasurer said.
CA stands to lose a staggering 300 million Australian dollars if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 gets called off.
"The India-Australia tour is more likely to happen because it is further away and logistically it easier to organise. We will have to see what government guidelines are at that point (both India and Australian government).
"How will the team travel? There is no clarity on international travel and if we can get an exemption. We dont' know as of now. The picture is ho hazy that we can't decide anything," said Dhumal.
When asked about Cricket Australia's idea of playing an additional Test, Arun Dhumal replied: "As far as the fifth Test goes, that discussion happened before the lockdown. When cricket resumes, (we will see) whether any country would like to host an additional Test or have two T20s instead, which is likely to generate more revenues.
"There is a possibility that request comes from Cricket Australia only."
(With PTI inputs)
