The Indian team may have to go through the entire mandated quarantine phase in Brisbane ahead of their full Australian tour after reports emerge that BCCI president Sourav Ganguly's request for a shorter isolation period, a relaxation in COVID-19 protocols, is set to be rejected by Queensland government.
As per the strict guidelines laid down by the health officials, tourists arriving down under must self-isolate for 14 days. From cricket's perspective, that means two weeks of inactivity and necessary negative tests before being allowed to take the field.
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"Queensland health officials are set to make cricket's most powerful nation adhere to strict national protocols, details of which have delayed Cricket Australia announcing a revised schedule for its $300 million summer," a report in the 'Sydney Morning Herald' stated.
Apart from the reduced quarantine, BCCI also wants Indian players to be allowed to train in a bio-secure bubble instead of being restricted to a hotel room.
"We just hope the number of quarantine days get reduced a bit," Ganguly had said in July. "Because we don't want the players to go all that far and sit in hotel rooms for two weeks. It is very, very depressing and disappointing. We are looking at that, the quarantine thing."
An application has been filed by the BCCI to request allowing an extended squad, coaches, support staff and families to arrive in Brisbane just days after the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in UAE on November 10.
"Queensland Health is currently assessing an application received from the Indian cricket team. We will work directly with the team as the assessment progresses," a QH spokeswoman was quoted saying.
Considering the regulations in place to maintain the sanctity of the bio-bubble, the touring party could comprise of as many as 22-25 players.
It is understood, Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari and the support staff, including head coach Ravi Shastri, are due to have a six-day quarantine in Dubai near the end of IPL 2020 before flying across to Australia.
The New Zealand women's team which went there recently for a limited-overs series had to go through 14-day isolation in Brisbane before the trip. They were, however, allowed to train during the phase.
(Inputs from PTI)
