After the cancellation of the fifth Test between India and England at Old Trafford last week, visitors’ head coach Ravi Shastri had come under the scanner for organising a book launch in London.
Shastri's book, titled 'Stargazing: The Players in My Life', had a launch event on August 31, two days ahead of the start of the fourth Test at the Oval.
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Incidentally, Shastri and three other support staff members tested positive for COVID-19 during the penultimate Test while assistant physio Yogesh Parmar contracted the virus on the eve of the final Test, leading to the match being controversially abandoned with India leading the series 2-1.
In his recent with 'The Guardian', Shastri reflected on the turn of events and said he has no regrets about organising the book launch.
"I have absolutely no regrets because the people I met at that function were fabulous. And it was good for the boys to get out and meet different people rather than constantly being in their rooms," he stated.
"At the Oval Test, you were climbing stairs used by 5,000 people. So to point a finger at a book launch?" he asked.
"...but I wasn't worried because incubation probably takes weeks. There were about 250 people there and no-one got COVID from that party."
Talking about his time in quarantine, Shastri said: “It was funny because in my 10 days, I didn’t have a single symptom barring a little sore throat. I never had any temperature and my oxygen level was 99 per cent all the time.
“I didn’t take any medication through 10 days of my isolation, not a single paracetamol. I tell the guys: ‘Once you’re double jabbed, it’s a bloody 10-day flu. That’s it’."
Ravi Shastri’s book launch grabbed the headlines after the fifth Test was called off with the outcome of the series yet to be decided.
Asked if he was made the scapegoat, the coach replied: “I’ve not got it at my book launch because it was on the 31st (August) and I tested positive on 3 September. It can’t happen in three days. I think I got it in Leeds. England opened up on 19 July and suddenly the hotels were back, lifts were back. No restrictions."
Shastri also made it clear that he has no role to play in the decision of not playing the Manchester Test as he was serving isolation in London.
“No. I didn’t know who had got it. I didn’t know (the junior physio) got it suddenly and tested positive. He physically treated five or six players. I think that’s where the issue started. We were aware that the incubation period meant that someone might get it in the middle (of the Test).
“A lot of players had their families there. So it became a situation where you don’t know what that player is thinking. He’s got a young kid, you know, he’s got to think of them. It was a little, I would say, touchy.”
Shastri also hoping that the BCCI and ECB will settle the matter amicably.
“The ECB have been outstanding and their relationship with Indian cricket is tremendous. People are talking about the money but I can guarantee the ECB will make that entire amount with interest.
“I don’t know if it’s a stand-alone Test next year or they give them an extra two T20 games, but the ECB will not lose a penny because of the relationship that exists. In 2008 when we had the (terrorist) blast in Mumbai, England came back and played the Test. We don’t forget that."
(With PTI inputs)
