Australia vs India: BCCI requests relaxation of hard quarantine before Brisbane Test

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ‘formally’ requested Cricket Australia, asking for some relaxation of hard quarantine before the fourth and final Test at The Gabba in Brisbane. The world’s richest cricket board wrote an official letter to Earl Eddings, the CA head, showing the Memorandum of Understanding signed by BCCI and the home board before the tour got underway.

The final match of the tour is scheduled to start on January 15 and the tough quarantine has put the BCCI in a bit of a dilemma. As per the current quarantine, the players would be restricted to their hotel rooms after the day’s play.

“The discussions are still on but today BCCI has formally sent a letter seeking relaxation of hard quarantine for its players if they are to have the match in Brisbane,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying in News18.

BCCI’s demands before the Brisbane Test

Going by CA’s communication regarding the tough quarantine protocols, players can interact with each other, but only on their respective floors. Players from two different floors cannot come in contact with each other. The BCCI has requested for a quarantine similar to the one in the Indian Premier League.

“The BCCI’s demand is simple. The players want to mingle with each other inside the hotel bio-bubble as they did in the IPL. They want to have their meals together inside the hotel and also have the team meetings together. That’s not a big demand,” the official stated.

“The BCCI has told CA that the relaxation of the quarantine rules should be given in writing. During India’s hard quarantine in Sydney after reaching from UAE, there used to be police personnel in each floor ensuring that there is no breach of bio-safety protocols.”

Hopefully, nothing of that sort will happen if the team travels to Brisbane. All we want is IPL style bio-bubble,” the official added.

If the Queensland authorities don’t agree to BCCI’s request, the last Test could well take place in Sydney itself. With around a week left for the final Test, further developments regarding the same remain to be seen. The four-match Test series is currently locked at 1-1 with the SCG Test currently underway.