Australian government's decision to seal its borders for next six months because of the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to now affect India's full tour to the country, starting October.
India is scheduled to travel to Australia for a three-match T20I series, part of preparations towards the T20 World Cup down under, beginning October 18, before the focus shifts to the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The tour would end in the third week of January 2021 with a three-match ODI series.
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But with a six-month travel ban imposed, no team will be allowed to enter Australia for that duration of time, especially with the nation having seen 2000 COVID-19 positive cases, including 16 reported deaths.
"Right now it's too early to say anything. It's a potential six-month travel ban. If the situation is under control, it could be lifted early also," a senior BCCI office-bearer close to the development told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
The deadly outbreak has had a global impact as various other countries are either in lockdown or have already put strict travelling restrictions in place. "The processing of visa, tickets everything becomes a logistical challenge," another BCCI source said. "Also not only Australia, England is supposed to tour India in September for their white ball leg. Will things be normal in the UK and players allowed to travel. These are big questions."
Immediate international and domestic fixtures across the globe have been suspended in wake of the pandemic. In India, the 13th edition of the IPL is now under serious threat of being cancelled and if the situation doesn't improve, the national side's mid-year tours to Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the Asia Cup might also be affected.
"The frustrating aspect is that you can't even decide anything as the situation varies from country to country. However helpless it might sound, we can only wait and watch," the source added.
(Inputs from PTI)
